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AUTHOR: 


ORLEANS,  CHARLOTTE 

ELIZABETH 


TITLE: 


LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF 
CHARLOTTE... 

PLACE: 

LONDON 

DA  TE : 

1889 


Master  Negative  # 


COLUMBIA  UNIVERSITY  LIBRARIES 
PRESERVATION  DEPARTMENT 


-3l'Jpo3i-j3, 


BIBLIOGRAPHIC  MICROFORM  TARGET 


Original  Material  as  Filmed  -  Existing  Bibliographic  Record 


><■■"<     !■ 


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944.033 
0r53 


Restrictions  on  Use: 


Orleans, .Charlotte-Elisabeth,^  duchgsse  d« , ;.1 6,52- 

^Se'and  letters  of  Charlotte  Elizabeth,  princess  Pala- 
tine and  mother  of  Philippe  d'Orleans,  regent  of  France 
1652-1722,  comp.,  tr.,  and  gathered  from  various  pub- 
lished and  unpublished  sources,  comprising  the  archives 
of  the  French  foreign  office,  the  archives  of  the  house 
of  France,  and  the  manuscripts  in  the  Bibliotheque  na- 
tionale,  Paris.    London,  Chapman  and  Hall,  limited,  1889. 


viii,  341  p.    front,  (port)     2U 


cm 


1.  France— Court  and  courtiers. 


Library  of  Congress 


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LIFE  AND  LETTERS 


OF 


CHARLOTTE   ELIZABETH, 


MOTH  Eli    OF  PHILIPPE  D'ORLEAyS. 


James  I.  of  Exf;LA\i» 


Fre<lorick  V.^pElizabeth  JStuart 


Electrcss  Sopliia 


Gcorjji-e  I. 


Karl  LiidwiLT 


Charlotte  Elizabeth. 


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LIFE  AND  LETTERS 


OF 


CHARLOTTE  ELIZABETH 


riUNCESS  PALATINE 


AND 


MOTHER  OF  PIIILIPrE  D'ORLEANS,  REGENT  OF  FRANCE 

1652—1^22 


Compiled,  Tramhited,  and  Gathered  from  various  Published  and 

Unpublished  Sources, 

COMPRISING 

THE   ARCHIVES  OF   THE   FRENCH   FOREIGN   OFFICE 

THE  ARCHIVES  OF   THE   HOUSE   OF   FRANCE,   AND   THE   MANUSCRIPTS 

IN   THE   BIBLIOTHEQUE   NATIONALS,   PARIS. 


LONDON:  CHAPMAN  AND  HALL, 

Limited. 

1880. 


^•CT'""**-  . 


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WE.STMIXSTEU: 

PRINTED  BY  NICHOLS  AND   SONS. 

2r>,  PARMAMEST  STREET. 


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PREFACE. 


Charlotte  Elizabeth  was  the  eldest  child  of  the 
Elector  Palatine  Karl  Ludwig,  and  of  Charlotte  of 
Hesse  Cassel,  his  wife.  She  Avas  born  in  the  Castle 
of  Heidelburg  on  the  7th  of  July,  1652. 

Married,  on  the  16th  of  November,  1672,  to  Mon- 
sieur, Philippe  d'Orleans,  Louis  the  Fourteenth's 
only  brother.  By  him  she  had  three  children:— 
the  Due  de  Valois,  born  1673— died  1676;  the 
Due  de  Chartres,  who  afterwards  became"  the 
Regent,  born  1674-died  1721  ;  the  Duchesse  de 
Chartres,  born  1676  —  married  to  the  Due  de 
Lorraine  1698— died  1744. 

Charlotte  Elizabeth's  official  title  at  the  Court  of 
Louis  the  Fourteenth  was  Madame,  Duchesse 
d'Orleans,  but  siie  was  generally  styled  Madame 
by  her  contemporaries,  whilst  liistorically  she  is 
known  as  "  tlie  Princess  Palatine,  mother  of  the 
Regent." 

She  died  on  the  8th  of  December,  1722. 
A  selection  of  her  letters,  addressed  to  the  Duke 
of    Brunswick    and    Caroline    of    Anspach,    then 


158098 


VI 


PREFACE. 


) 


f 


'J 


Princess  of  Wales,  were  first  published  by  Viewieg, 
at  Brunswick,  in  1789.  A  Prencli  translation, 
published  l)y  Maradon,  attracted  considerable  at- 
tention in  Paris.  Another  and  somewhat  fuller 
selection  appeared  in  1807.  Since  then  divers 
collections  and  translations  of  parts  of  Madame' s 
truly  enormous  correspondence  have  been  brou^^ht 
out  both  in  France  and  Germany,  generally  styling 
themselves,  "  Complete  and  Unabridged  Corres- 
pondence of  Charlotte  Elizabeth,  etc." 

This,  on  the  face  of  it,  is  clearly  an  impossible 
and  absurd  assertion,  for  the  Princess  Palatine  is 
known  to  have  written  hundreds  of  letters  to  every 
Court  in  Europe.  Many  of  her  letters,  specially 
those  addressed  to  her  German  relations,  never 
reached  those  to  whom  they  Avere  written,  having 
been  stopped  at  the  frontiers  as  containing  com- 
promising political  news  of  Prance.  Others  were 
probably  destroyed  on  the  death  of  the  recipients, 
and  many  must  even  now  be  lying  buried  in  the 
national  archives  of  Spain,  Sivoy,  Austria,  and 
Italy,  without  speaking  of  what  must  have  become 
of  the  Ions:  epistles  Madame  wrote  to  her  friends  in 
the  French  provinces,  and  to  every  small  German 
principality.  Till  comparatively  lately  it  was  sur- 
mised that  Madame's  letters  to  her  aunt,  the  Elec- 
tress  Sojihia,  had  been  destroyed  by  George  I., 
who  greatly  disliked  his  cousin,  but  fortunately  a 
volume  of  them  was  found  and  permission  obtained 
to  publish  a  selection  of  them. 


PREFACE. 


vu 


Among  Madame's  correspondents  were  the  Elec- 
tress  Sophia,  her  father's  sister;  her  two  step- 
daughters, the  Queens  of  Spain  and  Sardinia;  the 
Duchess  of  Modena  ;  the  Queen  of  Prussia,  her  first 
cousin;  Mme.  Von  Harling,  her  old  governess;  and, 
later  in  life,  Leibnitz,  the  famous  German  savant; 
the  llaugravine  Louise,  her  half-sister;  her  own 
daughter,  the  Duchesse  of  Lorraine  and  Ear ;  and 
Caroline  of  Anspach,  at  that  time  Princess  of 
AVales.  She  wrote  a  large  clear  hand,  and  often 
spelt,  both  in  German  and  French,  the  same  word 
in  five  different  ways.  Keenly  alive  to  the  laws 
of  courtesy  and  etiquette,  her  letters  begin  and 
end  with  innumerable  protestations  of  friendship, 
respect,  and  assurances  of  her  aff'ection.  Writin^»- 
to  her  inferiors  in  rank,  she  generally  signed  her- 
self, ''  your  faithful  friend,  Charlotte  Elizabeth." 

Her  letters  reflect  the  life,  not  only  of  the  Court 
of  France,  but  of  the  English,  German,  and  Spanish 
Courts  of  her  time,  and  of  the  society  which  com- 
posed them.  They  also  gave  a  vivid  picture  of  the 
religious  world,  both  Huguenot,  Philosophical,  and 
Eoman  Catholic. 

We  cannot  do  better  than  refer  the  reader  to 
the  account  written  of  Madame  by  one  of  her 
contemporaries,  the  Due  de  Saint  Simon,  and  to 
the  few  admirably- chosen  words  in  which  Mr. 
Thackeray  sums  up  her  personality  and  character. 
Saint  Simon  says  :  ''Madame  tenalt  heaucoup  plus 
de  Vliomme  que  de  la  femme^  elle  etait  forte  cou- 


r-«  ■    V  » 


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PREFACE, 


rageuse^  Allemande  au  dernier  point,  franche, 
droit e,  bonne,  bienfaisante,  noble  et  grande  en 
toutes  ses  manieres;  petite  au  dernier  point  sur 
tout  ce  qui  regardait  ce  qui  lui  etait  du.  Elle  etait 
sauvage,  tonjours  enfermee  a  ecrire ;    dure,  rude, 

se   prenant   aisement  d' aversion Capable 

avee  cela  d'une  amitie  tendre  et  inviolable.  .  ,  .  ." 
And  Thackeray,  in  the  first  chapter  of  his  Ristortj 
of  the  Four  Georges :  *'  A  woman  wliose  honest 
heart  was  always  with  her  friends  and  dear  old 
Deutschland,  though  her  fat  little  body  was  con- 
fined at  Paris,  Marly,  or  Versailles " 


May,  1889. 


I 


LIFE  AND  LETTERS 


OF 


CHARLOTTE  ELIZABETH, 


MADAME,  MOTHER  OF  THE  REGENT  PHILIPRE  D'ORLEANS. 


\ 


CHAPTER  I. 

1652  TO  1G86. 

To  arrive  at  a  just  conception  of  Charlotte  Eliza- 
beth's character,  it  is  necessary  to  understand  from 
whence  she  derived  her  peculiar  and  strongly- 
marked  individualities. 

Her  father,  Karl  Ludwig,  was  the  second  son  of 
Frederick  V.,  Elector  Palatine  and  sometime  King 
of    Bohemia,    and   Elizabeth    Stuart,  daughter    of 

James  I. 

Frederick  V.'s  strange  mixture  of  weakness 
and  combativeness,  aided  by  his  wife's  ambition, 
involved  liim  in  the  Thirty  Years  War,  and 
destroyed  the  Palatinate,  which  was  ravaged  by 
Spinola  and  his  Spanish  troops. 

The  then  Elector's  children  went  out  into  the 
world  to  seek  their  fortune:  among  them  was  Prince 
Kupert,  the  well-known  admiral  and  general  under 
Charles  I. 


s  - 


1  LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF  THE 

At   the   Peace   of  Westphalia  a  new  Electorate 
was  created  in  favour  of  Karl  Ludwig,  to  whom 
the  Palatine  States  were  delivered  over.    He  imme- 
diately set  to  work  to  bring  back  prosperity  and 
wealth  to  the  Palatinate;    and  succeeded  so  well 
that  soon  he  became  known  as  the  Regenerator* 
He  had  begun  by  recalling  the  families  who  liad 
emigrated  to  Holland,  England,  and  the  neighbour- 
ing German  states  ;  and  rebuilt  Heidelburg  Castle, 
which  had  fallen  into  a  frightful  state  of  rain  and 
neglect  during  the  Thirty  Years  War.     The  new 
Elector   also   issued    decrees    that    any   one    who 
restored  one  of  the  old  town-houses  in  Manheim  or 
Heidelbur:?  should  be  freed  from  all  taxation  for 
two  years;  those  who  built  new  houses  were  exempt 
for  tiirce  years,  and  those  who  planted  vineyards 
for  six  years. 

The  University  of  Heidelburg,  founded  in  13SG 
by  the  Elector  Ruprecht  I.,  one  of  the  oldest 
centres  of  learning  in  Germany,  had  also  gone 
completely  down  during  the  Thirty  Years  War,  and 
its  splendid  library  was  scattered  to  the  four  corners 
of  the  earth.  Karl  Ludwig  reconstituted  it  as  far  as 
he  was  able,  and  Heidelburg  became  once  agaiu 
celebrated  for  its  learning.  Amongst  those  whom 
the  Elector  called  to  his  aid  was  Spinoza,  the  great 
Jewish  philosopher  and  metaphysician. 

As  religious  differences  had  greatly  contributed 
to  the  disasters  which  had  fallen  upon  his  states, 

*  Wiodeihersteller. 


^ 


MOTHER  OF  PHILIPPE  D^ORLEANS,  3 

he  practised  unlimited  tolerance.  The  Calvinists 
were  recalled,  Roman  Catholics  and  Lutherans  dwelt 
in  peace  together,  and  even  the  Anabaptists  arrived 
from  Holland  and  formed  themselves  into  a  com- 
munity at  Manheim,  where  some  of  their  descend- 
ants are  now  highly-respected  citizens. 

There  exists  a  fine  portrait  of  Madame's  father, 
by  Van  Dyke,  which  shows  the  Elector  as  a  power- 
ful-looking man  in  the  prime  of  life,  his  wonderfully- 
handsome  countenance  strongly  resembling  that  of 
his  mother,  the  unhappy  Queen  of  Bohemia,  whose 
beauty  won  her  the  title  of  the  Queen  of  Hearts. 

Having  stated  the  excellencies  of  Karl  Ludwig 
as  a  ruler,  we  must  now  turn  to  his  private  charac- 
ter as  a  man.  He  married  on  the  12th  of  February, 
1650,  Princess  Charlotte  of  Hesse  Cassel,  a  strange 
reserved  woman,  passionately  fond  of  hunting  and 
every  sort  of  outdoor  amusement,  and  quite  indif- 
ferent to  her  husband's  life  and  interests.  Their 
quarrels  began  during  the  honeymoon. 

Charlotte  Elizabeth  was  born  on  the  7th  of 
September,  1652,  in  the  Castle  of  Heidelburg. 
Her  infancy  and  childhood  were  passed  amidst  the 
constant  quarrels  of  her  father  and  mother,  for 
shortly  after  Charlotte  Elizabeth's  birth  the  Elector 
fell  violently  in  love  with  a  certain  Maria  Susanna 
Louisa  von  Degenfeld,  a  beautiful  girl  of  eighteen, 
and  his  own  wife's  maid  of  honour.  His  cor- 
respondence with  the  lady,  which  has  been  23re- 
served,   is  extremely  curious.      Evidently  finding 

B  2 


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4  LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF  THE 

some  difficulty  in  cxi)rcssing  liis  sentiments  by 
writing,  he  simply  copied,  almost  word  for  word, 
the  love-letters  contained  in  a  romance  which  dealt 
of  the  loves  of  a  certain  Lucretia,  whose  knight 
wrote  her  long*  and  passionate  epistles  in  Latin. 

Louise  von  Degenfeld's  answers,  although  couched 
in  indifferent  Latin,  show  a  far  brighter  wit  tlian  do 
tlie  letters  of  her  royal  lover,  or  rather  than  those 
he  borrowed  from  Lucretia's  knight. 

This  Fraulein  von  Degenfeld,  who  was  destined 
to  play  such  an  important  part  in  Charlotte  Eliza- 
betli's  history,  does  not  seem  to  have  been  possessed 
of  the  commonest  principles  of  honour.  She  began 
by  showing  Karl  Ludwig's  letters  to  the  Electress, 
and  when  the  latter,  greatly  incensed,  upbraided  her 
husband,  the  young  maid  of  honour  seemed  to  wisli 
to  play  the  part  of  peacemaker,  though  keeping  up 
a  secret  correspondence  meanwhile  with  the  Elector. 

After  some  time  the  Electress  began  to  suspect 
the  truth;  waiting  for  a  favourable  occasion  to 
publicly  reproach  the  Elector,  slie  invited  one  of  her 
brothers  to  come  and  see  her,  and  in  the  middle  of 
a  great  banquet  given  in  his  honour  she  suddenly 
disclosed  to  him  her  griefs  and  boxed  her  husband's 
ears.  After  this  things  went  from  bad  to  worse  till 
1657,  when  the  Elector  applied  for  a  divorce,  which 
was  granted  after  some  hesitation  by  the  Diet  of 
Ratisbonne  on  the  17th  of  April,  1657. 

Till  the  divorce  liad  been  actually  notified  to 
her,  Charlotte  of   Hesse   Cassel    does  not  seem  to 


r 


MOTHER  OF  PHILIPPE  D^ ORLEANS.         5 

have  realised  her  position,  but  to  have  gone  on 
Imnting,  driving,  and  leading  a  solitary  life,  seeing 
little  of  her  children,  and  indifferent  to  her 
husband's  way  of  life.  But  we  hear  of  her  writ- 
ing the  Elector  a  letter  almost  immediately  after 
tlie  divorce  had  been  pronounced,  which  ended 
with  these  words,  "  Tliis  is  from  the  most  ill- 
used  princess  in  Christendom,  Charlotte,  legitimate 
Electress  Palatine." 

Her  relations  advised  her  to  appeal  to  the  Em- 
peror, who,  as  lord  of  Germany,  had  a  right  to 
interfere,  but  he  refused  to  do  anything  for  her, 
and  would  only  counsel  lier  to  go  back  to  Heidel- 
burg  and  live  there  quietly  with  her  three  children 
as  though  nothing  untoward  had  occurred. 

This  she  made  up  her  mind  to  do,  but  in  the  mean- 
time the  Elector  had  married  Louise  von  Degenfeld, 
and  refused  to  allow  his  late  wife  access  to  her  chil- 
dren unless  she  would  promise  to  live  on  good  terms 
with  her  supplanter.  This  the  unliappy  Charlotte 
of  Hesse  Cassel  agreed  to  do,  but  her  fortitude 
gave  way  after  a  short  time,  and  resolving  on  one 
last  effort  she  placed  herself,  '^  soberly  dressed, 
though  not  in  widow's  weeds,"  close  to  where  the 
Elector  and  his  new  wife  were  to  pass  in  to  supper. 
We  are  told  that  she  held  the  little  Charlotte 
Elizabeth  by  the  hand,  having  bade  her  cry  with 
all  her  strength  when  she  saw  her  father  approach, 
"  Mercy  !  Mercy  ! '' 

AVhen  the  Elector   came   forward   Charlotte   of 


6  LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF  THE 

Hesse  Cassel  threw  herself  at  his  feet,  begging  him 
to  have  pity  upon  her,  and,  if  only  for  the  sake  of 
their  children  and  the  probable  effect  on  the  succes- 
sion, to  recognise  her  for  his  lawful  wife.  The 
Elector  seemed  greatly  troubled  and  half  turned 
towards  her,  but  Louise  von  Degenfeld  murmured, 
*^  Remember  your  promises  to  me,"  and  drew  him 
away.  Then  Charlotte  of  Hesse  Cassel  hurried  to 
her  own  apartments,  and  took  up  a  pistol,  intending 
to  shoot  her  rival  as  she  sat  at  supper,  but  Count 
Hohenlohe,  one  of  the  Elector's  gentlemen,  sus- 
pecting her  intention,  snatched  it  out  of  her  hand 
and  called  his  master. 

After  this  last  appeal  to  her  husband  the  Electress 
entirely  disappeared  from  Court,  and  was  never 
spoken  of.  Charlotte  Elizabeth  seems  to  have  quite 
forgotten  her  mother,  who  lived  on  a  sad  and  soli- 
tary existence  till  death  relieved  her  of  her  life. 

Karl  Ludwig  lived  with  Louise  von  Degenfeld  for 
over  twenty  years.  They  had  thirteen  children, 
in  whose  favour  the  Elector  revived  the  old  title  of 
Margrave  and  Margravine  Palatines.  To  these  half- 
brothers  and  sisters  Charlotte  Elizabeth  became 
and  remained  warmly  attached,  remarking  quaintly 
in  more  than  one  of  her  letters  to  them  :  *'  It  is  not 
your  fault  that  we  did  not  have  the  same  mother." 

When  Louise  von  Degenfeld  died  *  the  Elector 
was  inconsolable,  and  spoke  of  his  loss  in  piteous 

•  On  the  18tli  of  ^Vlarcli,  167B. 


MOTHER  OF  PHILIPPE  D'ORLEANS, 


terms  to  his  sister  the  Electress  Sophia  of  Hanover, 
with  whom  he  kept  up  a  constant  correspondence. 
He  wrote  a  curious  account  of  '^his  beloved 
Louise,"  celebrating  her  manifold  virtues,  her 
beauty,  cleanliness,  intelligence,  etc.,  but  having 
thus  praised  her  good  qualities  he  says  that  he  is 
bound  to  recall  that  ''she  did  not  always  follow  my 
advice,  and  often  saddened  me  by  her  ill- temper 
and  melancholy.  But  I  am  consoled,"  adds  the 
worthy  Elector,  '^  by  the  thought  that  during  her 
last  illness  neither  care,  nor  physic,  was  spared  to 
make  her  well  again." 

Charlotte  Elizabeth's  first  governess  was  a  certain 
Fraulein  Offeln,  to  whom  she  became  much 
attached.  One  of  the  earliest  letters  known  to 
have  been  written  by  Madame  is  addressed  to  this 
lady,  and  dated  Amsterdam,  March  9th,  1661,  when 
the  Princess  was  only  nine  years  old,  and  in  which 
she  tells  her  that  she  often  thinks  of  her,  has  had  a 
pleasant  journey,  and  only  complains  of  the  way  in 
Avhich  the  gnats  have  bitten  her. 

We  know  comparatively  little  of  Charlotte 
Elizabeth's  early  youth  excepting  through  the 
constant  references  in  her  after  letters  to  the 
dear  old  town  of  Heidelburg,  the  w^oods  above 
the  castle,  the  town  catechism,  the  simple  fare, 
and  her  happy,  careless  youth.  She  was  brought 
up  till  she  w£^s  twelve  years  old  by  the  Electress 
Sophia,  her  father's  sister,  and  in  1601  spent 
gome   nionths    in    Holland.      It    was   during  this 


8 


LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF  THE 


sojourn  in  Amsterdam  that  she  became  ncquaintcd 
vvitli  William  of  Orange. 

Once  the  Elector  gave  Charlotte  Elizabeth  two 
hundred  florins  as  a  Christmas-box  ;  a  present 
never  renewed,  for  Karl  Ludwig  was  a  careful 
man,  and  was  not  ashamed  of  the  fact.  His  house- 
hold expenses  were  not  based  on  the  number  of 
persons,  but  of  appetites  which  had  to  be  provided 
for,  less  being  given  to  those  known  to  care  but 
little  for  food. 

A  letter  addressed  to  Madame  von  Harlino-,* 
Charlotte  Elizabeth's  late  governess,  gives  us  a 
glimpse  of  the  life  led  by  the  Princess  at  the  age 
of  eighteen,  shortly  before  the  proposition  of  mar- 
riage with  Monsieur : 

"March  4tl],  1670. 

''  I  ought  to  tell  you,  dear  Madame  Harling,  that 
my  brother  Charles  f  and  myself  had  intended  to 
disguise  ourselves  for  Shrove  Tuesday  as  gods  and 
goddesses,  but  as  the  Vvreather  proved  to  be  too 
cold  the  fete  was  put  off,  and  yesterday  was  the 
day  chosen.  Our  costumes  were  quite  ready,  and 
very  handsome  ;  my  brother  was  to  represent 
Mercury,  and  I,  Aurora  ;  Fraulein  Kolb  being  Ceres, 
and  another  young  lady  Diana ;  there  were  also 
many  shepherds    and    nymphs.      The    triumphal 

*  Mdllo.  von  Offeln  mnrried  M.  de  Harling  in  1GG9.  Afadamo 
kept  up  an  active  correspondence  in  lier  after-life  with  both  husbiiud 
and  wife. 

t  Charlotte  Elizabeth's  half-brother. 


\\ 


■'• 


i 


MOTHER  OF  PHILIPPE  D^ORLEJNS.         9 

chariots  were  splendid.  Just  as  w^e  were  going  to 
begin  arrived  the  news  of  the  king  of  Denmark's 
death.  We  had  to  put  everything  off  for  six  weeks, 
hoping  that  nothing  else  will  occur  in  the  interval. 
You  must  allow,  dear  Madame  Harling,  that  your 
getting  up  early  entirely  depends  on  me,  for  am  I 
nut  Aurora,  and  have  I  not  the  gate  of  the  morn 
under  my  charge  ?  Be  sure  that  I  shall  only  open 
them  at  the  hour  which  suits  me  !  " 

NotwithstandingtheElector'sscandalous  behaviour 
to  her  mother,  and  his  many  oddities,  Charlotte 
Elizabeth  seemed  to  have  heartily  loved  and  ad- 
mired her  father,  and  she  submitted  to  her  fate 
without  a  murmur  when  told  that  she  must  leave 
her  home,  and  the  younger  brothers  and  sisters 
to  whom  she  had  become  so  much  attached,  to  be 
the  second  wife  of  Philippe  d' Orleans,  the  King  of 
France's  only  brother.  Monsieur,  the  widower  of 
the  beautiful  Henrietta  of  England,  whoso  mys- 
terious death  by  poison  had  been  discussed  by 
every  Court  in  Europe,  including,  we  may  be  sure, 
that  of  the  Elector  Palatine. 

Charlotte  Elizabeth  gave  in  with  a  good  grace  to 
wdiat  was  after  all  one  of  the  clearest  marlages  de 
convenances  the  world  has  ever  known.  Owin^'-  to 
Louise  von  Degenfeld  being  but  a  morganatic  wife, 
Charlotte  Elizabeth  presently  remained  the  Elector's 
only  legitimate  child.  By  her  marriage  to  his 
brother,  Louis  XIV.  secured  a  principal  right  to  the 
Palatinate  and  Bavaria.     On  the  other  hand,  Karl 


10 


LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF  THE 


Ludwiir  was  extreinely  glad  to  many  liis  daughter 
to  the  King  of  France's  only  brother. 

Notwithstanding  the  Elector's  liberal  views,  re- 
ligious dissensions  were  still  the  order  of  the  day 
in  the  Palatinate,  and  the  Protestants  felt  keenly 
their  young  Princess's  change  of  religion,  though  it 
is  probable  that  the  Electress  Sophia's  pupil  held 
anvthin<:i:  but  Calvinistic  views. 

We  are  told  that  a  Jesuit  Pere  Jourdin  was  sent 
from  Paris  to  assure  himself  of  the  bride's  orthodoxy, 
for  a  certain  Urbain  Chevreau,  believing  that  he 
would  please  the  French  Court,  had  already  at- 
tempted to  convert  the  young  princess  to  the 
Roman  Catholic  religion.  Curiously  enough  she 
had  been  neither  brought  up  Calvinist  nor  Lutheran, 
but  a  mixture  of  the  two,  which  resolved  itself  into 
something  resembling  the  French  Reformed  Faith, 
or  that  held  by  the  Huguenots. 

When  all  was  settled  Charlotte  Elizabeth  bade 
good-bye  for  ever  to  her  beloved  Heidelbufg  and 
was  brought  by  her  father  to  Strasbourg,  Avliere  she 
was  delivered  up  into  the  hands  of  Anne  of  Gon- 
saga,  who  had  been  sent  from  Paris  to  meet  her 
and  send  a  description  of  the  young  German  girl  to 
her  future  home.  As  Anne  of  Gonsaga  was 
Charlotte  Elizabeth's  own  aunt,  we  may  suppose 
that  the  rapport  was  not  unfavourable.  In  ex- 
change for  the  bride.  Monsieur  gave  the  Elector  a 
receipt  for  32,000  German  florins,  which  constituted 
her  dowry. 


I 


MOTHER  OF  PHILIPPE  D' ORLEANS.        ii 

At  Metz,  where  the  marriage  by  proxy  was  to  be 
celebrated,  Charlotte  Elizabeth  read  and  signed  her 
abjuration  in  presence  of  the  bishop  and  of  a  noble 
company  of  noblemen  and  ladies,  as  it  is  set  forth  in 
a  curious  document,*  in  which  '^  I,  George  d'Abus- 
son  la  Feuillade,  Bishop  of  Metz,  testify  that  Char- 
lotte Elizabeth,  daughter  of  the  Elector  Karl  Ludwiir 
Palatine,  and  of  Charlotte  of  Hesse  Cassel,  his 
wife,  abjured  the  heresy  in  which  she  had  been  in- 
structed, before  a  mighty  company  of  nobles  in  my 
cathedral  of  Metz,  being  at  that  time  aged  nineteen 
years." 

This  is  signed  by  several  of  the  great  nobles  of 
the  time,  and  by  Charlotte  Elizabeth's  own  upright 
large  hand.  Monsieur  was  represented  at  the  mar- 
riage ceremony  which  followed  by  the  Mar^chal 
Due  de  Plessy  Praslin. 

In  the  inventory  f  of  the  things  brought  by 
Madame,  as  she  was  henceforward  to  be  called, 
we  find  many  strange  signs  of  her  father's  avarice, 
and  yet  affection  for  the  young  daughter.  Thus 
she  is  j)rovided  with  four  watches,  a  mirror,  and 
several  jewel-boxes,  but  none  of  the  costly  o-old 
plate  with  which  foreign  princesses  generally  en- 
riched the  royal  families  to  whom  they  became 
allied. 

Madame's  four  watches  were  thus  described: 
^^One  watch,  contained  in  a  gold  filigree  box,  round 
the  dial  is  a  row  of  small  rubies.  One  watch  backed 

*  French  National  Archives.  f  Idem, 


^MSiiaHe 


12 


LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF  THE 


with  blue  enamel,  contained  in  a  gold  case  studded 
with  turquoises  and  small  diamonds.  Two  other 
watches,  plain  gold,  contained  in  black  chagreen 
cases  studded  with  small  gold  nails." 

Among  her  ornaments,  the  new  Madame  could 
show  one  object  which  was  only  fair  to  look  upon, 
not  useful ;  this  was  a  little  gold  Cupid,  studded  all 
over  with  small  rubies,  diamonds,  and  pearls.    Mon- 
sieur settled  on  her  the  Chateau  of  Montargis  as  her 
dower-house  in   case  of  his  death  ;    she  afterwards 
constantly  refers  to  Montargis  with  the  dread  of  being 
exiled  there  both  before  and  after  Monsieur's  death. 
This  old  chateau  had  been  sold  to  liouis  XIV.  by 
the  Due  de  Guise,  who  had  allowed  it  to  fall  into  a 
half -ruined  condition ;  and  when  it  was  settled  on 
Madame  her  father  never  took  the  trouble  to  find 
out  in  what  state  the  castle  was,  in  which  was  to 
be   his   daughter's  probable  home  in  case  of   her 
becoming  a   widow.      But   the   Elector's   conduct 
with  regard  to  the  marriage- contract  was  far  more 
culpable,  for  it  left  Madame  penniless  in  case  her 
husband  happened  to  die  before  the  birth  of  her 
child,  or  if  she  became  a  childless  widow.     Among 
the  curious   stipulations  in   the    contract  was  one 
that  Monsieur  reserved  the  right  of  wearing  all  his 
late  wife's  jewels  and  ornaments. 

Again,  that  anything  Charlotte  Elizabeth  brought 
with  her  from  Heidelburg  would  become  half 
her  husband's  property.  And  that  in  case  of  her 
death  he  should  appropriate  all  her  jewels,  gems, 


MOTHER  OF  PHILIPPE  D^ORLEANS. 


13 


robes  and  chattels  to  console  him  for  the  loss  of 
his  dear  wife. 

This  strange  document  *  was  signed  at  Stras- 
bourg, the  representatives  of  Philippe  d' Orleans 
refusing  to  proceed  with  the  marriage  till  the 
Elector  and  his  daughter  had  agreed  to  all  its 
clauses.  But  Madame  in  after  years  often  and 
justly  complained  in  her  letters  of  the  way  in 
which  her  father  had  allowed  the  marriage-con- 
tract to  be  drawn  up  without  any  reference  to  her 
interest. 

A  portrait  taken  of  Madame  just  after  her  mar- 
i^iage  shows  us  a  short,  stout  madcJien^  with  a  sen- 
sible, good-humoured  face,  innocent  of  the  powder 
?  •  and  cosmetics  which  were  then  tlie  fashion  at  Louis 

XlV.'s  court,  having  been  brought  there  by  Anne 
of  Austria,  who  had  preserved  her  title  of  a  fair 
beauty  till  the  end. 

And  Monsieur?  Saint  Simon,  one  of  the  shrewd- 
est and  most  impartial  chroniclers  of  the  time,  says 
of  Louis  XIV.'s  brother,  Pliilippe  d'Orleans:  *' Mon- 
sieur was  greatly  attached  to  this  mortal  life,  owing 
to  his  always  iiaving  led  an  agreeable,  lazy  exist- 
ence. He  w^as  incapable  of  serious  work  or  study 
of  any  sort.  He  was  always  dressed  up  in  many- 
coloured  garments,  covered  with  jewels  of  all  sorts, 

'^  Now  preserved  at  tlie  Frencli  National  xVrchives,  where  we 
were  allowed  to  consult  all  the  papers  relative  to  the  Princess 
Palatine,  by  the  courtesy  of  the  Director,  to  whom  all  our  thanks 
are  due. 


b^i-iBi^riAi«tfH 


I  <i»"ri'1mT'1 ---— 


^^MOMiMli 


H 


LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF  THE 


\ 


ring's,  Ijracclets,  ))recious  stones  and  ribbons ;  using 
many  kinds  of  perfume  and  cosmetic.  He  was  even 
said  to  rouge  himself  !  " 

Madame  also  mentions  in  more  than  one  of  her 
letters  her  husband's  love  for  rouge,  and  he  always 
applied  it  to  her  cheeks  himself  whenever  she  would 
suffer  it. 

Although  speaking  French  very  imperfectly, 
knowing  little  or  nothing  of  the  family  into  which 
she  had  married,  Madame  immediately  became 
Somebody,  who  must  be  considered,  watched,  con- 
sulted, and  feared,  both  as  being  the  first  lady  in 
the  kingdom  after  the  queen,  and  because  of  her 
own  marked  individuality. 

She  succeeded  to  the  title,  honours,  and  perils 
which  had  been  borne  by  Henrietta  of  England,  a 
graceful  and  melancholy  figure  who  flitted  through 
Louis  XIV. 's  brilliant  Court,  leaving  the  awful  sus- 
picion on  her  husband  of  having  connived  at  her 
sudden  death.  And  we  are  made  to  feel  by  the  Court 
chronicles  that  all  stood  looking  on  with  a  certain 
interest  and  cold  curiosity  at  the  drama  in  which 
they  believed  the  second  Madame  must  also  neces- 
sarily play  the  part  of  victim. 

But  soon  it  became  clear  to  the  onlookers  that 
this  Madame  was  made  of  sterner  stuft'than  Charles 
I.'s  unhappy  daughter,  and  had  her  own  ideas  on 
every  possible  subject.  Louis  XIV.,  ''Our  Great 
Man,"  as  she  constantly  designates  him  in  her 
letters,  was  the  only   person  powerful  enough  to 


MOTHER  OF  PHILIPPE  D'ORLEANS.        15 

cope  with  her  determined  and  sturdy  character. 
Her  almost  brutal  sincerity  produced  a  great  im- 
pression on  a  pleasure-loving  Court,  where  the  pro- 
verb "  Toiite  verite  n' est  pas  bonne  a  dire'^  was 
foUow^ed  in  its  widest  signification.  Madame  took 
exactly  the  opposite  view,  and  thought  that  as  long 
as  one  was  quite  sure  of  the  truth  of  a  thing  one 
might  of  course  say  it  and  write  it  to  anybody, 
far  and  near. 

Saint  Simon  and  M.  Walckenaer*  both  give  an 
interesting  and  clear  account  of  Madame.  Saint 
Simon  says :  "  Madame  would  have  made  a  perfect 
gentleman.  She  was  strong,  courageous,  frank,  fair 
in  her  dealings  and  benevolent  to  all  .... ;  yet 
extremely  susceptible  as  to  the  honours  which  she 
considered  due  to  her  rank.  She  was  reserved, 
always  shut  up  in  her  own  apartment  writing, 
taking  strong  aversions  to  those  round  her,  yet  not 
wanting  in  wit,  and  capable  of   a  true  and  faithful 

friendship." 

M.  Walckenaer's  description  is,  we  should  imagine, 
less  just.  ''  The  Duchess  d'Orleans  was  distin- 
guished by  a  startling  originality  which  no  one 
felt  inclined  to  imitate.  She  lived  apart  from  every- 
body. .  .  .  Though  frightfully  ugly  she  made  no 
attempt  to  conciliate  those  round  her,  but  disgusted 
them  by  her  sullen  pride  ....  Though  heartily  de- 
spising her  husl)and  she  treated  him  with  courtesy. 

*  Mcmoires  aiir  Mnie.  de  Sevigne, 


■■■■■■■■-"'-        ■'■»ltlJ!»-   ^J^^-M.      ■    . 


i6 


LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF  THE 


Louis  XIV.  esteemed  highly  her  virtue,  loyalty, 
and  rough  sincerity.  He  also  sympathised  with  her 
love  of  outdoor  life,  dogs,  horses,  and  the  chase. 
The  King  never  approved  of  her  lonely  and  re- 
served way  of  life.  Wlien  not  occupied  in  hunting 
or  going  to  the  play  she  wrote  long  letters  to  her 
noble  German  relatives." 

When  Madame  arrived  in  France  Louis  XIV.  had 
just  decided  on  making  the  chateau  of  Versailles 
one  of  his  official  residences,  and  a  great  part  of 
Monsieur's  life  was  necessarily  spent  with  his 
brother,  although  Saint  Cloud  was  supposed  to  be 
his  own  peculiar  property.  Madame's  whole  life 
was  tlierefore  passed  in  the  small  though  beautiful 
belt  of  country  near  Paris  in  which  Versailles,  Saint 
Cloud,  Marly,  and  St.  Germains  are  situated.  We 
hear  of  her  living  sometimes  at  Fontainebleau,  and 
often  in  Paris,  but  most  of  her  letters  are  dated 
from  Versailles. 

Like  her  mother,  Charlotte  of  Hesse  Cassel,  Ma- 
dame became  passionately  fond  of  hunting.  Her 
father  had  never  allowed  her  to  learn  riding,  and 
she  tells  us  that  she  must  have  had  at  least  twenty 
tumbles  before  she  learnt  to  stick  on  properly.  As 
Louis  XIV.  hunted  several  times  a  w^eek  Madame 
was  able  often  to  enjoy  her  favourite  diversion  in 
the  beautiful  woods  of  Marly,  St.  Germains  (Avhere 
lived  James  II.  and  ]\Iary  of  Modena),  and  the 
forest  of  Le  Vesinet. 

In  the  following  passage  of  a  letter  addressed  to 


MOTHER   OF  PHILIPPE  D^ORLEANS.      17 

the  Electress  Sophia,  Madame  gives  a  touching 
account  of  her  grief  when  leaving  her  father  at 
Strasbourg : 

To  THE  Electress  Sophia. 

"  Saint  Germain,  Feb.  3rd,  1672. 

^'  Madame  de  Wurtemburg  spoke  the  truth  when 
she  described  my  grief  to  DorndorfF.  I  cried  all 
night  from  Strasbourg  to  Chalons.  I  showed  myself 
far  more  indifferent  than  I  really  was  in  feeling. 
I  cannot  forgive  myself  for  the  manner  with  which 
I  parted  from  my  relatives  in  Strasbourg. 

^^  I  will  tell  you  one  thing  about  Monsieur :  he  is 
the  best  man  in  the  world,  and  we  get  on  very  well 
together.  None  of  his  portraits  resembled  him  in 
the  least." 

By  this  we  see  that  the  second  Madame  instinct- 
ively upheld  her  husband,  and  through  all  her  letters 
during  his  lifetime  she  constantly  mentions  him  with 
praise  and  a  certain  affection,  as  contrasted  to  his 
evil  councillors  and  those  about  the  Court. 

Madame,  through  her  marriage  to  Monsieur,  be- 
came step-mother  to  Henrietta  of  England's  daugh- 
ters, whom  she  entirely  adopted  as  her  own  children, 
taking  great  pains  with  their  education,  and  caring 
after  their  health.  But  early  in  the  year  1673 
Madame's  eldest  child  was  born,  and  the  title  of 
Duke  de  Valois  given  him  by  Louis  XIV.,  to  her 
great  satisfaction,  for  Madame  held  to  etiquette  and 
the  honour  she  considered  due  to  her  rank  with  all 
the  strength  of  her  German  nature. 


i8 


LIFE  AND   LETTERS   OF  THE 


To  Madame  von  Harling. 

"July  6th,  1G73. 
'*I  often  think  of  the  joy  you  must  have  felt  on 
being  told  of  my  safe  deliverance  of  a  boy.  As  I 
have  always  been  like  your  own  child  it  is  as 
though  you  had  heard  of  the  birth  of  a  grandson. 
I  feel  sure  that  he  has  your  heartiest  good  wishes. 
As  soon  as  he  has  had  his  j^ortrait  taken  I  will  send 
it  to  you ;  but  I  hope  that  you  will  see  him  some 
day  and  find  him  all  that  you  could  wish.  Thank 
God  he  is  a  fine  and  healthy  child,  and  has  been  so 
since  the  day  of  his  birth.  His  size  and  beauty 
give  me  great  pleasure " 

This  child  of  whom  Madame  wrote  so  proudly 
to  lier  old  governess  was  not  destined  to  survive  his 
third  year,  but  died  a  few  months  after  the  birtli  of 
the  Due  de  Chartres,  her  second  son. 

To  Madame  von  Harling. 

'« April  20th,  1676. 

"  The  terrible  blow  with  which  the  Almighty  has 
seen  fit  to  overwhelm  me  so  troubled  me  that  I  was 
not  able  to  answer  your  letter  before.  You  see 
now  how  right  I  was  in  wishing  that  my  children 
could  be  under  your  care ;  I  always  foresaw  what 
would  happen  to  me.  They  manage  children  in 
the  strangest  way  in  this  country Unfor- 
tunately 1  know  nothing  about  them,  never  having 
had  any  experience,  so  I  am  obliged  to  do  what 
they  tell  me.     The  more  I  think  of  this  the  more 


i 


MOTHER    OF  PHILIPPE  D^ORLEANS,       19 

wretched  I  become.  I  am  now  quite  alone  in  my 
grief,  for  Monsieur  started  last  Thursday  with  the 
King  to  join  the  army.  I  fear  that  all  this  will  in- 
jure the  child  I  am  awaiting.  ...  I  do  not  think 
that  grief  can  kill — were  it  so  I  should  certainly 
have  died  before  now.  I  cannot  describe  to  you  the 
terrible  sufferings  I  have  endured " 

The  death  of  the  infant  Due  de  Valois  made  a 
permanent  impression  on  Madame's  mind  as  re- 
garded the  doctors  to  whom  the  royal  children 
were  confided. 

''  May  30th,  1676. 

''  I  wish  that  I  could  send  you  the  Due  de 
Chartres  in  a  letter.  I  should  then  feel  sure  of 
his  life.  I  fear  greatly  for  him,  and  would  wish 
him  to  be  three  or  four  years  older  than  he  is,  and 
past  the  dangers  of  early  infancy.  They,  the 
doctors,  have  no  idea  of  the  care  that  children 
require ;  they  will  never  listen  to  anything,  and 
have  already  dispatched  a  heap  of  children  into  the 
next  world " 

Shortly  after,  the  Duchess  de  Chartres,  Madam e's 
only  daughter  and  youngest  child,  was  born,  and 
in  a  letter  written  ten  days  after  to  Madame  von 
Harling,  Madame  says  :  ''  Thank  God,  the  Due  de 
Chartres  is  in  good  health,  as  is  also  his  little  sister, 
who  is  as  fat  as  a  stuff'ed  goose,  and  very  big  for 
her  age.  Last  Monday  they  were  both  christened ; 
they  have  been  given  my  name  and  that  of  Mon- 

c2 


20 


LIFE   AND   LETTERS   OF  THE 


sieur :  thus  the  rogue  is  Philippe,  and  tlie  little  girl 
Charlotte  Elizabeth." 

Wo  hear  that  Madame  sent  for  a   nurse   from 

Heidelburg  for  the  two  children,   and  stoutly  in- 

sisted  that  they  should  be  brought  up  and  physicked 

German   fashion.      Keeping  herself,  during  these 

early  years  of  married  life,   away  from  the  Court 

and  Court  intrigues,  Madame  led  a  comparatively 

happy  existence,  and  her  letters  during  this  period 

are  not  specially  interesting.     In  1679  her  eldest 

step-daughter,    Marie    Louise    d'Orldans,    married 

Charles  II.  of  Spain,  and  was  thus  added  to  the 

already   considerable    list    of    people  with   whom 

Madame  considered  it  her  duty  to  correspond  every 
week.  '^ 

In  some  of  Madame's  letters  to  the  Kaugravine 
Louise  some  side-light  is  thrown  on  the  existence 
and  deatli  of  Henrietta  of  England's  unhappy 
daughter.  It  is  well  known  that  Marie  Louise  had 
wished  to  marry  the  Dauphin.  When  she  was  com- 
plaining to  the  King  of  having  to  leave  France  he 
IS  said  to  have  observed,  ^^  What  could  I  do  more 
for  my  own  daughter  than  make  her  Queen  of 
Spain?"  Whereupon  Madame's  step-daughter 
answered,  -But  you  could  do  more  for  your  niece  " 

Till  the  last  moment  she  hoped  that  the  marriac^e 
would  be  broken  off.  Mme.  de  Sevigne  mentions 
m  more  tlian  one  letter  the  Princess's  great  grief  at 
having  to  leave  France.     After  leading  a  most  un- 


MOTHER   OF  PHILIPPE  D'ORLEJNS.      21 

happy  existence  she  died  in  1689,  many  thought 
poisoned  by  the  Comtesse  de  Soissons,  in  order  that 
the  King  of  Spain  might  marry  a  German  Princess. 
In  the  autumn  the  Court  generally  migrated  to 
Fontainebleau  for  a  few  weeks.  From  there  Ma- 
dame writes  in  September,  1677.  to  the  Marquise 
de  Sable,  a  lady  much  esteemed  by  her ;  and  such 
were  the  precautions  considered  necessary  against 
letters  being  opened  by  the  messenger  that  took 
them  that  Madame  fastened  the  letter  with  a  black 
seal  across  a  piece  of  blue  wool.  The  following 
proves  Madame  to  have  been  an  accomplished  and 
dignified  scribe  when  writing  a  ceremonious  letter: 

"  On  leaving  the  chapel  this  morning  I  was  given 
your  letter,  and  to  prove  to  you,  madame,  how  greatly 
I  lay  store  by  a  faithful  and  kindly  friend,  I  am 
going  to  give  up  my  walk  this  fine  nriorning  in  order 
to  answer  your  letter.  The  thanks  with  which  you 
overwhelm  me  for  the  poor  portrait  I  sent  you, 
and  also  all  the  fine  things  you  are  pleased  to  say 
to  me,  causes  me  to  remind  you  that  it  makes 
one  feel  ashamed  to  be  praised  for  virtues  that 
one  does  not  really  possess  however  greatly  one 
may  long  for  them.  Therefore  I  beg  of  you 
when  you  gaze  at  my  portrait  to  remember  only 
this  —  that  the  woman  before  you  is  your  very 
good  friend,  and  sends  you  her  portrait  because 
she  truly  loves  you. 

^'  Charlotte  Elizabeth." 


I 


22 


LIFE   AND   LETTERS   OF  THE 


On  the  28th  of  August,  1680,*  the  worthy 
Elector  Karl  Ludwig  departed  this  life,  and 
was  much  mourned  by  the  good  people  of 
Heidelburg  and  Manheim  to  whom  he  had  been 
a  better  father  than  to  his  own  children.  He 
was  succeeded  by  Madame's  only  brother,  who 
married,  1681,  a  Danish  princess,  and  died  with- 
out posterity  in  1685.  A  Prince  of  the  House  of 
Neubourg  succeeded  him,  to  Madame's  great  indig- 
nation ;  she  had  hoped  that  the  claims  of  one  of 
her  half-brothers  (Louise  von  Degenfeld's  eldest 
son)  would  be  recognised. 

Madame  begins  writing  about  what  went  on  at 
Court  in  the  year  1688,  just  after  the  death  of  the 
Queen  Marie  Therese;  for  the  event  necessarily 
raised  the  wife  of  Monsieur  to  the  position  of  first 
lady  in  the  kingdom,  and  obliged  her  to  mix  in 
Court  circles  and  intrigues. 

To  THE  Electress  Sophia. 

*'  Saint  Cloud,  Aug.  1st,  1683. 

"  I  am  convinced  that  you  were  much  surprised 
on  receiving  the  sad  news  of  Her  Majesty  the 
Queen's  f  sudden  death.  I  own  that  this  event 
has  grieved  me  much,  for  the  good  Queen  was 
always  my  faithful  friend  through  all  my  troubles, 
so  you  may  imagine  the  pain  it  has  been  to  me  to 
see  her  give  up  the  ghost,  after  only  four  days' 
illness.     Last  Monday  night  she  became  feverish, 

•  Eight  years  after  his  daughter's  marriage. 

I  Marie  Therese,  a  Spanish  princess,  married  to  Louis  XIV. 


i 


MOTHER   OF  PHILIPPE  D^ORLEANS,      23 

and  at  three  o'clock  on  Friday  afternoon  she  died. 
Her  death  is  entirely  due  to  the  ignorance  of  the 
doctors,  who  killed  her  as  surely  as  though  a  sword 
had  been  run  through  her  heart.  .  . 


?? 


"  FONTAINEBLEAU,  Aug.  29th,  1683. 

^^  As  for  our  King  I  cannot  say  whether  or  not  he 
will  marry  again,  but  to  tell  the  truth  I  believe 
that  he  will  do  so.  I  am  not,  unfortunately,  as 
much  in  favour  as  you  have  been  informed ;  if  it 
were  so,  I  should  have  immediately  have  put  for- 
ward my  god-daughter  *  and  tried  to  arrange  for 

her  according  to  her  own  wishes But  I 

frankly  own  that  my  lord  and  master  is  more  in 
favour  than  myself;  this  is  rendered  evident  by  the 
daily  good  offices  of  the  King  to  the  Chevalier  de 
Lorraine,  for  whom  (as  I  have  already  informed 
you)   Monsieur  uses   all   his   influence   and  credit 


jj 


'*  FoNTAiNEBLEAU,  Sept.  25th,  1683. 

'^  During  the  last  fifteen  days  we  hear  nothing 
but  anecdotes  and  mots  about  the  death  of  M. 
Colbert.  I  will  tell  you  those  that  I  can  call  to 
mind.  No  doubt  you  have  seen  a  book,  printed 
this  year,  entitled  Dialogues  of  the  Dead,  The 
departed,  modern  and  ancient,  are  made  to  dis- 
course together.  This  has  given  rise  to  the  follow- 
ing story  :    The  Queen  on  her  way  to  Heaven  was 

*  Sophia  Charlotte,  daughter  of  the  Electress  Sophia,  and 
afterwards  Queen  of  Prussia. 


II 


M 


LIFE  AND   LETTERS   OF  THE 


stopped  by  the  Devil,  who  wished  to  hear  what  was 
going  on  in  France.  She  replied,  '  Alas  !  I  know 
no  news  of  that  kingdom,  and  never  was  told  any.' 
Just  then  up  rushes  another  devil,  who  cries  eagerly, 
*  Let  the  Queen  pursue  her  way,  I  bring  somebody 
who  can  inform  us  of  everything ; '  so  saying  he 
produces  M.  Colbert.  I  tried  to  learn  what  he  said, 
but  nobody  has  been  able  to  tell  me. 

*'  The  populace  were  so  incensed  with  him  that 
they  wished  to  tear  his  dead  body  to  pieces,  and 
guards  had  to  be  placed  all  the  way  from  his  house 
to  the  church  where  they  buried  him ;  but  they 
have  not  been  able  to  prevent  a  hundred  skits  and 
satires  being  written  on  the  walls  of  the  chapel 
where  he  reposes " 


r 


MOTHER   OF  PHILIPPE  D^ORLEANS.      25 


CHAPTER  11. 


1686  TO  1692. 


"  Saint  Cloud,  June  26tli.  1686. 

"  There  is  an  old  German  proverb  which  says 
that  when  the  Devil  cannot  himself  go  to  a  place  he 
sends  an  old  woman ;  the  truth  of  this  is  patent 
to  all  we  members  of  the  royal  family,  but  I  will 
say  no  more " 

In  this  letter  Madame  first  alludes  to  Mme.  de 
Maintenon,  who  quickly  developed  into  her  pet 
aversion.  Till  Louis  XIV.'s  death  they  cordially 
hated  one  another,  and  tried  in  everyway  to  injure 
one  another's  credit  near  the  King.  Strangely 
enough  neither  succeeded;  Louis  XIV.  married 
Mme.  de  Maintenon,  yet  never  omitted  to  show  his 
brother's  wife  the  respect  and  affection  which  he 
considered  her  due  both  before  and  after  Mon- 
sieur's death. 

Madame  was  perhaps  the  most  aggressive  in  their 
quarrels,  for  she  particularly  detested  the  Due  du 
Maine,  Louis  XIV.  and  Mme.  de  Montespan's  son, 
whom  Mme.   de  Maintenon  regarded  as  her  own 


26 


LIFE  AND   LETTERS   OF  THE 


MOTHER    OF  PHILIPPE   D'ORLEJNS. 


9»» 


child,  and  persuaded  the  King  to  legitimise  in  a 
formal  manner.  This,  as  Madame  well  knew, 
might  have  led  to  great  complications  should  tlic 
Dauphin  die  and  the  King  be  obliged  to  declare  the 
Due  de  Chartres  his  heir. 

To  THE  Electress  Sophia. 

*'  My  son  likes  copying  the  mannei's  of  grown-up 
people,  thus  the  ceremony  of  the  Insignia  quite 
suited  his  taste     ... 

*'  As  for  ceremonies,  my  son  is  exceedingly  unlike 
me,  yet  he  pretends  to  like  them  less  than  Mon- 
sieur, for  when  asked  lately  whether  he  cared  for 
ceremonies  and  fine  clothes  he  answered,  '  I  do  not 
hate  them  as  does  Madame,  but  then  neither  do  I 
share  Monsieur's  love  for  them.'  " 

"  Versailles,  Aug.  lltli,  1686. 

"  That  old  wretch,  the  Maintenon,  takes  pleasure 
in  making  the  King  detest  all  the  members  of  the 
royal  family  with  the  exception  of  Monsieur,  whom 
she  praises  to  him ;  she  manages  so  that  the  latter 
lives  on  good  terms  with  his  brother,  and  gives  him 
all  that  he  asks  for.  But  the  moment  that  Monsieur's 
back  is  turned  the  old  woman  fears  that  she  may 
be  thought  to  esteem  him,  so  when  he  is  mentioned 
she  speaks  ill  of  him,  saying  that  he  is  the  most 
debauched  and  false  man  in  the  world 

"  All  the  Ministers  have  placed  themselves  under 
the  heel  of  this  woman,*  and  try  with  the  lowest 

*  Mmc.  de  Maintenon. 


arts  to  gain  her  favour.  All  reasonable  and  honest 
persons  are  dissatisfied,  but  can  change  nothing  in 
the  existing  state  of  things.  Young  men  are  fright- 
fully vicious  and  do  not  deprive  themselves  of  the 
pleasures  of  lying  and  cheating ;  they  think  that 
to  be  a  man  of  honour  is  a  ridiculous  thing " 

"  Saint  Cloud,  Oct.  lOtli,  1686. 

'^  The  Queen  of  Spain  possesses  all  her  husband's 
affection,  and  would  not  certainly  lead  an  unhappy 
existence  but  for  the  hatred  entertained  for  her  by 
the  Count  of  Mansfeld,  the  Emperor's  Ambassador; 
he  tries  to  draw  down  misfortunes  on  her  in  every 
possible  manner " 

"  Saint  Cloud,  Sept.  2nd,  1687. 

"  It  seems  to  me  quite  curious  to  think  of  the 
Prince,*  and  our  Margrave,f  being  in  that  land  of 
Greece  famed  in  all  the  comedies  and  novels.  I 
do  not  know  whether  a  poetic  spirit  will  descend 
upon  them  now  that  they  are  so  close  to  Parnassus 
and  the  Helicon.  I  am  pleased  that  they  should 
attain  to  all  tliis  honour  and  glor}^  without  risking 
their  lives.  You  are  quite  right  in  saying  that  one 
escapes  death  more  easily  out  there  than  here^  be- 
tween the  doctor's  hands.  His  Majesty  has  had 
four  attacks  of  fever,  but  quinine  entirely  cured 
him.  Just  now  tlie  Dauphin's  two  eldest,  the  Due 
de  Bourgoyne  and  the  Due  d'Anjou,  are  very  ill 

*  Maximilian,  the  son  of  the  Electress. 
t  Charles  Louis,  Madame's  half-brother. 


28 


LIFE   AND   LETTERS   OF  THE 


with  fever ;  this  morning  the  poor  little  things  were 
bled— I  cannot  think  it  a  good  tiling  for  such  little 
cliildren  ;  the  eldest  is  only  five  years  old. 

**I  do  not  think  that  Charles  Louis  would  find  it 
advantageous  to  wed  a  rich  French  widow  and 
change  his  religion.  No  one  here  cares  to  see 
foreigners  become  Catholic  as  long  as  the  conver- 
sion of  the  King's  subjects  is  assured.  As  for 
taking  service  in  France,  I  must  tell  you  that  the 
King  declared  to  me  that  he  would  not  give  promo- 
tion to  any  more  strangers.  Therefore  I  do  not 
think  that  Charles  Louis  can  make  his  way  here." 

*'  Versailles,  Jan.  26th,  J688. 

^*  It  is  quite  true  that  diamond  crosses  are  worn, 
but  not  from  a  feeling  of  devotion.  At  Court  no 
one  is  wearing  cross-overs,  but  coiffures  are  be- 
coming higher  every  day.  The  King  told  us  at 
dinner  to-day  that  a  hairdresser,  named  Allast, 
dresses  the  English  ladies'  hair  so  high  that  they 
can  no  longer  sit  upright  in  their  sedan  chairs,  and 
so  all  the  ladies  now  in  England  are  having  tlie 
top  of  their  chairs  altered  so  as  to  follow  the 
fashion " 

*'  Saint  Cloud,  April  14tli,  1G88. 

"  I  have  been  informed  secretly  that  the  true 
reason  why  the  King  treats  the  Marquis  d'Effiat  and 
the  Chevalier  de  Lorraine  so  well  is  that  they  have^ 
promised  him  to  bring  round  Monsieur  to  the  idea 
of  soliciting  him  to  allow  my  children's  marrying 
those  of  the  Montespan.     My  daughter  would  thus 


MOTHER   OF  PHILIPPE  D^ORLEANS.      29 

have  the  crippled  Due  du  Maine,  and  my  son 
Mdlle.  de  Blois.  In  this  matter  the  Maintenon  is 
quite  against  me,  and  for  the  Montespan,  for  she 
brought  up  these  wretches,  and  loves  the  cripple 

as  much  as  if  she  was  his  own  mother Now 

you  may  imagine  what  I  feel  when  I  think  of  my 
daughter  being  so  badly  settled  in  life  whilst  her 
sisters  *  have  been  so  well  married.  Even  were 
the  Due  du  Maine  t  a  legitimate  Prince  of  the 
blood  I  still  would  not  have  him  for  my  son-in- 
law  nor  his  sister  for  my  daughter-in-law,  for  she 
is  frightfully  ugly  and  full  of  other  defects.     He  is 

as  stingy  as  the   devil,  and  very   spiteful 

The  worst  of  it  is  that  I  dare  not  speak  frankly  to 
Monsieur,  for  he  has  the  habit  when  I  tell  him  any- 
thing of  going  straight  to  the  King  and  exaggerating 
greatly  whatever  I  said.  He  has  thus  got  me  into 
trouble  at  least  a  hundred  times.  I  hear  that  d'Effiat 
will  be  given  a  dukedom,  and  that  the  Chevalier 

will  have  a  large  sum  of  money I  myself 

may  be  exiled — Monsieur  speaks  of  it  to  me  quite 
seriously.  I  have  never  been  able  to  find  out 
whether  or  not  the  King  is  really  married  to  the 
Maintenon.  Many  declare  that  she  is  his  wife, 
married  to  him  by  the  Archbishop  of  Paris  in  the 
presence  of  the  King's  confessor  and  the  Main- 
tenon's  brother ;  others  say  that  it  is  impossible, 
so   it  is  difficult  to  know  the   truth.      But   it   is 

♦  The  daughters  of  Henrietta  of  England. 

t  The  son  of  Jjouis  XIV.  and  jVInie.  de  Montespan. 


30 


LIFE  AND   LETTERS   OF  THE 


■ 


certain  that  the  King  never  cared  for  any  of  his 
former  mistresses  with  the  same  intensity  that  ho 
does  for  this  woman " 

There  is  now  no  doubt  that  Louis  XIV.  was 
married  to  Mme.  de  Maintenon  by  Monseigneur 
Harlai,  Archbishop  of  Paris,  in  16S5,  in  the 
presence  of  Pere  la  Chaise  and  the  Marquis  de 
Montchevruil,  not  the  brotlier,  but  an  old  friend 
of  both  Scarron  and  his  widow. 

Mme.  de  Maintenon  was  extremely  anxious 
that  she  should  be  acknowledged  Queen  Consort 
before  the  King's  death,  but  this  he  always  re- 
fused to  do,  acting,  it  is  said,  by  F(5n^ Ion's  advice, 
but  Madame  de  31amtenaiit,  as  her  old  friend 
Ninon  de  I'Enclos  nicknamed  her,  had  unbounded 
influence.  The  Pope  frequently  wrote  to  her,  and 
she  had  spies  and  correspondents  in  every  Euro- 
pean Court,  and  knew  all  that  was  going  on  far 
better  than  the  King's  Ministers.  Madame  and 
she  had  rival  ^  inquiry  offices,'  so  between  the  two 
the  French  Court  was  kept  well  supplied  with 
news. 

To  THE  Electress  Sophia. 

'<  Saint  Cloud,  Aug.  2nd,  1G88. 

"  The  grande  Mademoiselle  has  gone  to  Eu, 
where  she  is  to  spend  two  months.  I  do  not  know 
what  the  King  can  have  said  to  her,  but  she  looks 
far  from  pleased.  When  I  bade  her  good-bye  last 
Saturday  she  wished  to  tell  me,  but  I  pretended 
not  to  understand  what  she  was  alluding  to.     One 


MOTHER   OF  PHILIPPE  D^ORLEANS.       31 

cannot  trust  this  worthy  Mademoiselle  in  the  least. 
To-day  she  tries  to  pleasure  you ;  to-morrow  she 
seeks  to  do  you  an  injury.  She  repeats  everything 
said  to  her  with  amplifications ;  for  these  reasons  I 
thought  it  most  prudent  to  remain  silent." 

''  Saixt  Cloud,  Sept.  26th,  1688. 
'^  In  the  meanwhile  our  Dauphin  has  become  a 
warrior.  As  I  have  already  told  you  he  started 
yesterday  to  besiege  and  take  possession  of  Phillips- 
bourg.  He  told  me  that  after  accomplishing  that 
he  would  take  Manheim  and  Frankanthal,  and 
generally  speaking  defend  my  interests,  but  I 
answered,  '  If  you  take  my  advice  you  will  remain 
at  home,  for  I  own  to  you  that  I  feel  grieved,  not 
pleased,  at  the  thought  that  my  name  will  be  used 
to  ruin  my  poor  country.'  *     On  this  we  parted." 

To  Madame's  great  anger  France  set  up  a  claim 
to  the  Palatinate  on  her  behalf,  Louvois  persuad- 
ing the  King  and  the  royal  family  that  with  a 
few  vigorous  measures  the  Palatinate  would  be 
abandoned  by  the  Neubourgs  and  annexed  to  France 
as  part  of  Madame's  dowry.  This  led  to  the 
devastation  of  the  states,  to  which  Madame  so  often 
and  so  bitterly  alludes  during  the  next  ten  years. 
Obliged  by  Louis  XIV's  policy  to  represent 
herself  as  desirous  to  recover  her  rights  over  her 
father's  and  brother's  succession,  in  many  docu- 
ments which  she  was  never  even  shown,  Madame 

*  The  I^alatinate. 


32 


LIFE  AND   LETTERS  OF  THE 


protested  in  all  her  private  letters  against  France's 
action  in  the  matter,  and  made  every  one  at  court 
thoroughly  aware  of  her  grief  and  disapproval  of 
what  the  King  was  doing  on  her  behalf. 

To  THE  Electress  Sophia. 

"  FONTAINEBLEAU,  NoV.  19tll,  1688. 

**  I  deferred  writing  to  you  till  I  received  your 
honoured  letter  of  the  18th-28th  October,  then  I 
understood  how  you  shared  my  grief  for  our  loss. 
Although  I  weep  less  than  at  first,  I  feel  a  great 
interior  sadness  and  melancholy.  I  see  that  it  will 
be  a  long  time  before  I  shall  console  myself  for  the 
loss  of  that  good  Charles  Louis.*  My  troubles  are 
increased  by  hearing  all  those  round  me  discuss 
incessantly  the  preparations  that  are  being  made 
to  burn  and  bombard  the  good  town  of  Manheim, 
which  my  father,  the  late  Elector,  built  with  so 
much  care.     It  makes  my  heart  bleed,  yet  they  are 

angry  at  my  grief Although  Monsieur 

asked  the  King  to  allow  homage  to  be  rendered 
him,  his  petition  was  refused.  Now  the  King  is  sole 
master  in  the  Palatinate.  But  I  am  far  from  think- 
ing that  he  will  give  anything  to  the  Margrave's 
children,  for  the  virtue  of  charity  is  rarely  practised 

here. 

**  During  the  ten  days  that  I  lay  ill  in  Paris,  the 
King  never  sent  for  news  of  me.  I  wrote  to  him  ; 
he  has  not  yet  answered.     When  I  returned  here,  I 

♦  Madame's  half-brother,  killed  at  the  siege  of  Negrepont. 


MOTHER  OF  PHILIPPE  D^ORLEANS,        33 

tried  to  find  out  the  meaning  of  all  this,  and  I  have 
been  secretly  informed  that  the  King  is  angry 
because  of  a  conversation  that  I  had  with  the  Due 
de  Montausier.    I  will  tell  you  what  passed. 

^^M.  de  Montausier  camo  towards  me  in  the 
Dauphin's  chamber,  saying,  ^  Madame,  the  Dau- 
phin is  your  sworn  servant,  he  is  going  to  conquer 
your  rights  and  your  land.'  I  answered  nothing,  so 
he  continued,  '  I  think  that  you  receive  what  I 
say  coldly,  madame.'  '  Monsieur,'  answered  I,  '  it 
is  true  that  I  receive  your  news  coldly,  for  you 
speak  of  things  of  which  I  wish  above  all  not  to 
hear;  I  see  no  profit  accruing  to  myself  by  my 
name  serving  to  ruin  my  country,  and  far  from 
feeling  overjoyed  I  am  very  sorry;  I  know  not 
the  art  of  deceit,  but  I  can  hold  my  tongue,  so  if 
you  do  not  wish  to  learn  my  thoughts  I  must  be 
asked  no  questions.' 

^^I  hear  that  the  old  Duke  took  this  by  the  wrong 
end,  and  told  many,  who  reported  it  to  the  King  ; 
but  I  cannot  help  it.  Why  do  they  act  in  so  strange 
a  fashion  towards  me  r  If  Monsieur,  his  own  brother, 
will  not  open  his  eyes  to  the  manner  in  which  we 
are  being  deprived  of  our  rights,  I  cannot  help 
allowing  my  friends  to  hear  the  truth,  and  not  be 
imposed  upon." 

"  Versailles,  March  20th,  1G89. 

''Should  they  kill  me  for  it,  I  cannot  help  bitterly 
regretting  and  deploring  my  share  in  my  country's 

ruin I  am  seized  witli  sucli  a  horror  when 

p 


I 


34 


LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF  THE 


I  think  of  all  that  has  been  destroyed,  that  every 
night  I  tliink  myself  at  Heidelburg  or  Manheim, 
in  the  middle  of  the  desolation.  I  wake  up  with  a 
start  and  do  not  go  to  sleep  again  for  two  hours.  I 
think  of  it  all  as  I  once  knew  it,  and  as  it  is  now ; 
also  of  the  change  in  my  own  life,  and  then  I  can- 
not prevent  myself  weeping.  What  is  also  painful 
is  that  the  King  actually  waited  before  reducing 
them  to  wliere  thev  are  now,  for  my  intreaties  in 

favour  of  Heidelburg  and  Manheim I  felt 

sure  that  you  would  be  much  grieved  at  the  death 
of  our  good  Queen  of  Spain  ;*  so  to  speak,  I  cannot 
yet  digest  it.  Although  following  the  example  of 
all  her  Majesty's  near  and  liigli  relatives,  I  have 
resumed  going  to  all  the  Court  festivities,  I  come 
back  from  them  as  sad  as  I  went " 

**  Saint  Cloud,  May  20th,  1G89. 

*^  I  see  that  Monsieur  is  thinking  of  appointhig 
the  Marquis  d'Effiat  governor  to  my  son.  He  is 
my  worst  enemy,  and  will  set  my  son  against  mo 
as  he  has  already  done  my  husband 

^'Our  Raugravest  are  very  unfortunate  in  thus 
losing  all  their  rights.  If  I  had  any  money  I  would 
send  them  some  with  all  my  heart,  but  you  cannot 
think  how  poor  I  am  myself.  I  have  only  a  hundred 
pistoles  a  month,  and  I  can  never  give  less  than 
a  pistole  for  anything  ;   at  the  end  of  eight  days  all 

*  ^Iadame*s  step-daugliter,  Marie  Louise  d'Orleans. 
I  Madame's  half-brothers. 


t 


1 


MOTHER  OF  PHILIPPE  D^ORLEANS.        35 

is  spent— everything  has  passed  in  fruit,  flowers,  and 
stamps.  When  the  King  gives  me  anything  I  have 
to  pay  up  old  debts,  and  he  only  gives  presents 
for  the  new  year.  Monsieur  has  never  given  me  a 
groat.  If  I  wish  to  buy  the  least  little  thing  I  have 
to  borrow;  this  renders  it  impossible  for  me  to  give 
gifts.  Even  if  I  sent  for  Charles  Maurice  *  and 
made  an  abbe  of  him  he  would  never  obtain  any 
benefices.  They  are  rare  just  now.  Quite  lately 
the  Prince  de  Talmont,  son  of  the  Princesse  de 
Tarente,  had  to  resign  orders  and  become  a  soldier 
because  they  allowed  him  to  starve." 

"  Saint  Clouu,  June  5th,  IGSD. 

'^  Our  Dauphiness  becomes  feebler  every  day. 
At  first  the  doctors,  to  please  certain  old  women 
whom  I  refrain  from  nan\ing,  for  you  will  guess 
to  whom  I  refer,  declared  that  the  Dauphine  was 
hypochondriacal,  and  that  her  illness  only  existed 
in  her  own  imagination  ;  they  have  allow^ed  the 
disease  to  increase  to  such  a  degree  that  I  fear 
nothing  will  save  her.  Now  that  she  has  to  lie 
abed  they  are  obliged  to  own  that  she  is  really 
ill,  but  they  are  extremely  ignorant.  .  . 


>j 


"  Versailles,  June  30th,  1689. 

^^  M.  de  Behenac  is  not  wrong  in  thinking  that 
the  good  Queen  of  Spain  was  poisoned.  The  fact 
was  plain  when  they  opened  her ;  immediately 
after  death  she  became  purple,  which  is,  they  sav, 

*  One  of  Madame's  half-brothers. 

d2 


36 


LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF  THE 


a  r^rtat  proof  of  poison.  What  again  makes  some 
believe  tliat  she  was  poisoned  by  oysters,  is,  that 
one  of  her  maids,  wishing  also  to  swallow  one,  was 
hurriedly  prevented  from  doing  so  by  some  grandee, 
who  snatched  it  from  her,  saying  that  she  would 
fall  ill  if  she  partook  of  it. 

''  I  hear  that  one  of  the  Princesses  Palatine  * 
is  going  to  be  the  new  Queen  of  Spain.  They  have 
made  a  fine  story  of  it  here,  saying  that  she  is 
in  love  with  Prince  Louis  of  Baden,  and  that  it 
is  for  this  reason  that  she  is  reluctant  to  become 
Queen  of  Spain." 

"  Versailles,  July  21st,  1G89. 

^^Last  year  the  Dauphiness  called  me  into  her 
boudoir,  and  informed  me  with  tears  in  her  eyes 
that  everyone  was  talking  of  the  love  my  cousin, 
de  la  Tremouille,  entertained  for  her,  and  that  all 
blamed  her  much  for  allowing  it.  She  begged 
me  to  tell  my  cousin  to  abstain  from  coming  so 
frequently  into  her  presence,  and  to  leave  off  cer- 
tain of  his  ways I  told  her  that  it  would 

be  better  if  she  would  despise  that  sort  of  talk, 
but  she  still  asked  me  to  do  as  she  wished.  I 
did  so,  and  also  scolded  him  well,  but  he  answered 
that  he  was  unhappy,  not  guilty,  and  that  as  soon 
as  he  had  finished  his  service  he  would  ask  leave 
to  absent  himself  to  go  to   his   mother  t  in   Ger- 

*  Olio  ot:'  the  I'riiicesses  beloiiijing  to  the  Neuburg  branch. 
I  The  Princpsse  de  Tarente,  nee  Princess  of  Hesse. 


MOTHER  OF  PHILIPPE  D'ORLEJNS.        37 

many ;  or,  if  the  Dauphiness  judged  it  necessary, 
he  would  sell  his  commission  and  live  on  his  pro- 
perty. I  told  her  all  this  ;  she  replied  that  all  she 
asked  was  that  he  should  only  come  into  her 
apartments  with  the  King,  have  less  free  manners, 
and  be  careful  as  to  his  expression  when  looking 
at  her.  I  heard  nothing  more  for  some  time,  but 
a  fortnight  since  he  came  to  me  sajang  that  the 
Duchesse  d'Arpajon,  lady-in-waiting  to  the  Dau- 
phiness, had  caused  him  to  be  fetched,  and  had 
ordered  him  from  her  mistress  never  to  approach 

her   again You   cannot    imagine    how 

much  the  Dauphiness  has  been  blamed  in  this 
matter." 

«  Saint  Cloud,  Oct.  30th,  1G89. 
*'  I  was  told  yesterday  a  thing  that  touched  me 
so  deeply  that  I  could  not  help  shedding  tears. 
The  poor  inhabitants  of  Manheim  have  retired 
into  their  cellars,  living  there  entirely,  even  hold- 
ing their  market  there  daily  as  though  the  town 
was  still  in  its  old  state.  When  a  Frenchman 
visits  Heidelburg  the  poor  people  rusli  at  him  and 
ask  for  news  of  me,  speaking  eagerly  of  my  father 
and  brother " 

"Versailles,  Feb.  8th,  1C90. 

*^  The  poor  Dauphiness  is  again  very  ill.  Slie  is 
now  under  the  care  of  a  Capuchin  monk,  who  goes 
by  the  name  of  Frere  Ange.  It  is  said  tliat  he 
cured  the  Duke  of  Bavaria  and  his  wife  of  very 


38 


LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF  THE 


' 


(lano-erous  diseases.  Would  to  God  that  lie  succeeds 
equally  well  in  this  case,  but  up  to  the  present 
time  there  is  no  sign  of  it.  They  are  killing  her 
with  ^vorry.  Everything  was  once  done  to  reduce 
me  to  a  like  state  ;  but  I  am  a  harder  nut  to  crack 
than  the  Dauphiness,  and  before  they  have  come  to 
tlie  end  of  me  the  old  women  will  break  some  of 
their  teeth." 

"  Versailles,  June  12th,  1690. 

''  It  was  quite  impossible  for  me  to  reply  to  your 
second  letter  at  Saint  Cloud.  I  wept  so  bitterly  at 
the  funeral*  of  the  poor  Dauphiness  that  for  two 
days  I  could  see  to  do  nothing.  Not  only  was  I 
grieved  at  the  loss  of  the  Dauphiness,  whom  I  was 
very  fond  of,  but  the  sight  of  our  arms  f  every- 
where— on  the  coffin,  on  the  hangings  of  the  church, 
etc. — recalled  to  me  so  vividly  the  death  of  His 
Highness,  my  father,  that  of  my  mother,  and  of  my 
brother,  that  I  feared  I  should  burst  with  emotion. 

*^  The  Wednesday  after  this  terrible  ceremony 
we  went  to  Marly,  and  stayed  there  till  Saturday. 
My  grief  ought  to  have  been  lightened,  for  every- 
thing went  on  as  usual — the  apartments  full  of 
gamblers,  hunting  every  afternoon,  and  music  in 
the  evening ;  yet  all  this  only  increased  my 
melancholy." 

♦  Tliis  ceremony  lasted  six  hours. 

f  The  Palatinate  and  Bavarian  royal  families  both  possessed  the 
same    arms.     The  Dauphiness  was  a  Bavnrian  Princess. 


MOTHER  OF  PHILIPPE  D^ORLEANS. 


39 


"  Versailles,  July  30th,  1G90. 

''  When  the  King  of  England  *  had  got  into  his 
coach  to  go  back  to  Saint  Germains,  he  found,  when 
only  a  few  yards  from  the  gates  of  the  chateau, 
one  of  his  servants,  who  announced  to  him  that  it 
was   reported   all   through   Ireland    that    Marshal 
Schomberg  had  been  badly  wounded,  and  the  young 
Prince  of  Orange  had  died  from  the  effect  of  his 
wounds.     We  have  since  learnt  that  what  was  said 
about  the  poor  Marshal  was  quite  true,  but  that  the 
Prince  was  only  slightly  wounded.     You  can  form 
no  idea  of  the  joy  provoked  by  the  news  of  his 
death ;  guards  had  to  be  sent  to  calm  the  tumult, 
but  they  found  themselves  powerless ;  it  lasted  about 
forty-eight  hours,  during  which  the  populace  did 
nothing  but  eat  and  drink.     The  Cordeliers  f  did 
light  a  great  bonfire  in  front  of  their  convent,  and 
danced  singing  round  it.     It  is  strange  that  the 
King  with  all  his  power  could  not  hinder  this.  .  .  . 
'^The  King  of  England  is  not  quick  in  repartee— 
sometimes  he  would  be  wiser  if  he  kept  silence. 
All  the  same,  I  must   tell  you  of  a  conversation 

that  he  held  with  my  gentleman-in-waiting 

''  '  Sire,'  said  M.  de  la  Rougere,  'what  became 
of  the  French  who  were  with  your  Majesty?' 
'  I  know  nothing  of  them,'  replied  the  King. 
'How  so?'  said  La  Rougere,  'Your  Majesty 
knows  nothing  of  them  ?  were  they  not  with  you?' 
'Pardon  me,'  answered  the  King,  'but  I  am  going 

*  James  II.  t  ^  monastic  order.     . 


4^ 


LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF  THE 


to  tell  you  all.  The  Prince  of  Orange  arrived 
with  40,000  men,  I  had  only  half  that  number  ;  he 
had  forty  cannons,  I  only  sixteen  ;  I  saw  that  he  was 
placing  his  left  wing  towards  Dublin,  and  that  he 
was  going  to  cut  off  my  road,  and  hem  me  in ;  so 
I  came  away,  and  returned  here.'  '  But,'  said 
La  Rougere,  '  I  have  heard  tell  of  a  certain  bridge 
that  your  Majesty  abandoned  to  the  enemy.  I 
suppose  that  you  had  no  need  of  it.'  *  Oh  !  as 
for  that  bridge,'  replied  the  King,  '  I  had  de- 
fended it  very  well,  but  the  enemy  sent  troops  and 
a  cannon,  and  this  same  cannon  forced  my  troops  to 
retire,  so  the  Prince  of  Orange  passed  over  it.'  " 

From  this  and  much  that  follows  it  is  easy  to 
gather  that  Madame  bore  no  great  liking  to  James 
II.,  who  had  taken  refuge  in  France  the  year  be- 
fore *  with  his  Queen,  Mary  of  Modena. 

Madame  de  Sevigne  speaks  of  the  splendid  recep- 
tion given  the  royal  couple  by  Louis  XIV.  and  his 
Court,  who  appear  to  have  been  much  struck  with 
the  beauty  and  grace  of  the  young  Prince  of  Wales, 

The  King  gave  James  II.  the  palace  of  Saint 
Germains,  Anne  of  Austria's  favourite  chateau,  as  a 
residence,  and  began  by  sending  him  a  present  of 

ten   thousand   gold    louis — about    eight    thousand 
pounds. 

Mme.  de  Maintenon  became  very  fond  of  Mary 
of  Modena,  and  took  the  exiled  Court  under  her 

*  In  1689. 


I 


MOTHER  OF  PHH^IPPE  D^ORLEANS        41 

special  protection.  This  was  enough  to  incense 
Madame  against  them,  but  as  time  went  on  her 
feelings  greatly  altered,  and  she  finished  by  having 
a  hearty  affection  for  le  hon  roy  and  his  sensible, 
courageous  wife. 

Encouraged  by  Louis  XIV.,  James  II.  made  a 
futile  attempt  to  recover  his  lost  throne,  but  Fate 
proved  unkind,  and  James  left  Ireland  a  sadder 
and  a  wiser  man,  to  live  and  die  in  the  home 
offered  to  him  by  the  King  of  France. 

To  THE  Electress  Sophia. 


(< 


Saint  Cloud,  Aug.  20th,  1690. 


'^  Herewith  I  send  you  all  the  ditties  that  are 
being  sung ;  they  are  not  exactly  complimentary 
to  our  worthy  King  of  England,  and  you  will  see 
on  reading  them  that  although  the  King  is  beloved 
and  the  Prince  of  Orange  hated,  yet  the  people 
here  hold  the  latter  in  most  respect.  Last  Thurs- 
day we  received  a  visit  from  the  poor  King  and 
Queen  ;  she  was  serious,  he  very  gay.  I  over- 
heard a  dialogue  which  greatly  diverted  me.  Mon- 
sieur, as  usual,  was  talking  of  his  jewels  and  fur- 
niture, and  ended  by  saying  to  the  King :  ^  And 
your  Majesty  who  has  so  much  money,  have  you 
built  some  fine  palace  ? '  '  Money  1  '  observed  the 
Queen,  ^  he  never  had  any.  I  never  saw  him  with 
a  halfpenny.'  The  King  answered,  ^  I  once  had 
some,  but  I  did  not  purchase  gems  and  furniture, 
neither   did   I   build   palaces,    all   mine    went    in 


'' 


42 


LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF  THE 


making  fine  ships,  cannons  and  muskets.'  '  Yes,' 
said  the  Queen,  '  and  much  good  it  did  you. 
Everything  has  gone  ill  with  us.'  Thus  ended  the 
conversation.  If  the  prophecy  of  the  late  King 
of  England  comes  true,  King  James  will  not  even 
make  a  good  saint.  Mme.  de  Portsmouth,  whom 
we  had  here  a  short  time  since,  told  me  that  the 
late  King  used  to  say,  'You  see  my  brother?  When 
he  becomes  King  he  will  surely  lose  his  kingdom 
through  religious  zeal,  and  his  soul  through  ugly 
queans,  for  he  has  too  bad  taste  to  choose  fine 
ones.'  This  prophecy  is  already  coming  true;  his 
kingdom  is  lost,  and  I  heard  that  it  is  said  in 
Dublin   that  he   brought   there   two   ugly   things 

whom  he  never  left 

^*  The  more  one  sees  of  this  King,  and  the  more 
one  hears  about  the  Prince  of  Orange,  the  more 
one  feels  bound  to  excuse  the  latter  and  find  him 
worthy  of  esteem.  No  doubt  you  are  now  saying 
to  yourself  that  one  always  comes  back  to  one's 
first  love,*  but  it  is  certain  that  an  intelligence 
such   as   his   pleases  me   more   than   a  handsome 

face 

Madame  was  very  fond  of  William  III.  So 
much  so  that  after  the  death  of  Queen  Mary  she 
hoped  that  he  would  marry  her  daughter  the  young 
Duchess   de   Chartres,  and   so   prevent   the   latter 

*  William  of  Orange  was  Madame's  cousin  ;  she  became  ac- 
quainted with  him  hi  her  youth,  when  she  spent  some  time  in 
Holland  during  the  year  1661. 


MOTHER  OF  PHILIPPE  D'ORLEANS.        43 

marrying  the  Due  du  Maine,  Mme.  de  Montespan's 
son  and  Mme.  de  Maintenon's  pupil.  But  the 
question  of  religion  proved  an  insurmountable 
obstacle  to  any  thought  being  entertained  as  to 
William  of  Orange  choosing  a  French  Princess 
for  his  second  wife,  and  Louis  XIV.  had  practi- 
cally pledged  himself  to  James  II.,  so  much  so 
that  years  passed  before  William  and  Mary  were 
ever  spokqn  of  as  King  and  Queen  of  England. 

''Versailles,  Sept.  Gth,  1690. 

^  a  hunted  when  at  Marly  with  the  good  King ;  * 
our  King  followed  with  the  Queen  of  England.  I 
think  that  she  would  be  well  pleased  if  her  hus- 
band only  saw  ladies  like  myself ;  for  in  that  case 
she  would  feel  no  jealousy,  her  heart  would  be  at 
rest,  and  good  King  James  would  receive  no  more 
boxes  on  the  ear.  His  valet  declares  that  he  had 
two  mistresses  in  Dublin,  but  here  his  conduct  is 
most  exemplary.  I  do  not  know  whether  it  is 
from  fear  of  his  wife  or  from  a  desire  to  follow 
the  present  fashion  by  becoming  pious,  for  lie 
frequents  sermons  and  church  services  assiduously. 


55 


"  Saint  Cloud,  Sept.  13th,  1690. 

"  It  is  certain  that  a  strange  meaning  is  given  in 
this  country  to  piety  and  religion.  I  do  not  agree 
with  it  the  least  in  the  world,  and  I  am  tempted 

*  James  II, 


J 


44 


LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF  THE 


to  do  like  that  Englishman  named  Fildin  (Field- 
ing). It  happened  in  this  wise  some  years  ago. 
Wendt  asked  him  once  at  Fontainebleau,  '  Are  you 
a  Hugnenot,  monsiem^  ?  '  '  No/  said  he.  '  So  you 
are  Catholic,'  observed  Wendt.  '  Even  less,'  replied 
the  Englishman.  '  Ah  ! '  said  Wendt  again,  '  then 
you  are  a  Lutheran.'  '  Not  at  all,'  replied  Fildin. 
'  What  are  you  then  ?  '  says  Wendt.  '  I  will  in- 
form you,'  replied  the  Englishman.  '  I  have  a 
little  religion  apart  for  myself.'  Good  King  James 
would  also  have  been  wiser  had  he  thus  acted 
instead  of  losing  three  kingdoms  *  through  bigotry 


?7 


"  Fontainebleau,  Oct.  20th,  1690. 

"  Since  I  have  learnt  to  know  the  good  King 
well  I  have  become  very  fond  of  him.  He  is  the 
best  man  in  the  world,  and  I  pity  him  with  all  my 
heart,  for  sometimes  he  sighs  in  a  heartrending 
fashion.  He  took  me  aside  and  put  me  through  a 
reo-ular  examination  as  to  whether  it  was  true  that 
his  daughter,  the  Princess  of  Orange,  had  taken  his 
misfortune  so  much  to  heart  that  she  had  refused 
to  dance  on  the  occasion  of  the  Electress  of  Bran- 


deburg's  visit  to  the  Hague. 


j> 


"Versailles,  Dec.  5tli,  1C90. 

''  I  am  somewhat  more  in  favour  this  year  than 
last.    I  do  not  know  to  whom  I  owe  this  happiness, 

♦  England,  Scotland,  and  Ireland. 


MOTHER  OF  PHILIPPE  D^ORLEJNS.        45 

for  I  have  not  altered,  but  continue  to  walk  along 

the  straight  road If   the  Cardinal  Azolin 

really  poisoned  Queen  Christina  he  quite  deserved 
his  wretched  death.  The  chamber-woman  must 
know  the  truth,  for  she  doubtless  saw  what  oc- 
curred. The  fashion  of  poisoning  people  is  getting 
too  common  :  it  is  said  that  they  silenced  the  poor 
Infanta  of  Spain  in  the  same  manner " 

"  Versailles,  Jan.  7tli,  1691. 

^^  After  vespers  the  King  was  good  enough  to 
send  me  two  thousand  pistoles.  Although  it  will 
but  little  profit  me,  as  I  shall  have  to  pay  my  old 
debts  with  it,  yet  it  gave  me  great  pleasure;  firstly, 
because  I  see  that  I  am  less  in  disgrace  than  I  was 
last  year ;  and  secondly,  because  it  upholds  my  credit 
with  those  that  advance  me  money,  to  see  that  I 
pay  my  debts " 

"  Versailles,  July  22nd,  1691. 

*'  M.  de  Louvois'  habit  of  drinking  cold  water 
has  brought  him  no  good,  but  I  do  not  know 
whether  it  is  mineral  or  spring  water  which  hurt 
him.  All  the  doctors  who  attended  him  have  de- 
clared in  writing  that  he  died  from  some  frightful 
poison.  In  one  little  quarter  of  an  hour  he  passed 
from  glowing  health  to  death.  I  met  and  spoke  to 
him  only  a  half-hour  before.  He  looked  so  well  and 
fresh-coloured  that  I  said  to  him,  '.  So  you  find  the 
Forges  waters  agree  with  you?  .  .  .  .'  It  seems 
that  they  have  arrested  one  of  liis  servants,  who  is 


\' 


46 


LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF  THE 


suspected  of  liaving  instilled  poison  into  a  silver 
vessel  from  which  M.  de  Louvois  drank  that  after- 
noon. We  shall  soon  know  the  truth  about  it.  .  .  . 
As  he  was  destined  to  die  I  could  wish  that  he 
could  have  done  so  three  years  ago ;  the  poor 
Palatine  States  would  have  benefited." 

"  Saint  Cloud,  Aug.  23rd,  1691. 

"  I  have  already  informed  you  of  the  death  of 
M.  de  Louvois.  If  it  is  true  that  he  died  from 
poison,  I  do  not  believe  that  it  is  from  the  act 
of  his  sons,  bad  as  they  may  be.  I  am  more  in- 
clined to  think  that  it  is  the  work  of  some  doctor 
who  wished  to  please  a  certain  old  woman,*  whom 
M.  de  Louvois  greatly  offended,  and  of  whom  he 
spoke  with  great  freedom  to  the  King  on  his  way 
to  Mons.  The  King  looks  far  from  being  dis- 
pleased by  this  death;  I  have  seldom  seen  him 
so  merry  as  now.  . 


j> 


"  FoNTAiNEBLEAU,  Sept.  28tll,  1G91. 

'*  M.  de  Louvois  is  so  forgotten  that  no  one 
now  cares  whether  he  was  poisoned  or  not.  His 
son,  M.  de  Barbezieux,  is  going  to  be  married 
soon,  and  to  a  lady  that  once  was  to  be  married 
to  his  eldest  brother,  M.  de  Courtenveau.  The 
lady,  Mdlle.  d'Uzes,  preferred  the  youngest,  in 
which  matter  she  showed  judgment,  for  the  elder 
one  is  stupid  and  very  ugly,  whilst  Barbezieux  is 

*  Allusion  to  Madame  de  Mainteuon. 


MOTHER  OF  PHILIPPE  D^ORLEANS,        47 

very  clever  and  amiable.  They  are  equally  well 
off.  Although  the  eldest  one  had  seemed  much 
in  love  he  immediately  resigned  himself  to  his 
brother's  desire,  but  I  fancy  that  the  latter  had 
better  abstain  from  eating  with  him,  for  he  poi- 
soned his  governor  in  Rome.  Our  great  man* 
is  incapable  of  such  things.  I  know  that  certain 
people  have  offered  to  assassinate  the  Prince  of 
Orange  for  him,  but  he  never  consented ;  but  I 
feel  sure  that  many  are  animated  by  this  indiscreet 
zeal.  All  the  same  the  Prince  of  Orange  must  have 
a  great  deal  of  moral  courage  to  be  so  little  afraid  of 
death  ;  no  one  can  deny  that  he  is  a  worthy  man." 

Madame  had  three  half-sisters,  to  whom  she  was 
greatly  attached,  and  with  whom  she  corresponded 
constantly.  After  the  Elector  Karl  Ludwig's 
death  his  daughters  were  obliged  to  leave  Heidel- 
burg.  The  Electress  Sophia,  who  had  always 
accepted  Louise  von  Degenfeld  as  a  sister-in-law, 
took  them  in,  and  the  Raugra vines  Caroline, 
Louise,  and  Amelia  followed  their  aunt  from 
Hanover  to  England,  where  the  eldest,  Caroline, 
married  the  son  of  Marshal  Schomberg.  To  this 
lady  Madame  wrote  but  rarely;  with  the  two 
others,  who  returned  to  Germany  shortly  after 
their  sister's  marriage,  she  kept  up  an  active  cor- 
respondence, which  increased  greatly  after  the 
Electress  Sophia's  death.  But  long  before  that 
event  took  place  Madame  wrote  every  week  to  the 

*  Louis  XIV. 


48 


LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF  THE 


Raugravinc  Louise,  sending  frequent  messages  to 
Lady  Schomberg,  with  whom  Monsieur  had  desired 
her  not  to  correspond,  as  she  was  the  wife  of  one 
of  William  of  Orange's  supporters.  Through  the 
Rauo-ravine  Louise,  Madame  heard  all  the  news  of 
the  small  German  Courts. 

To  THE  Rauguavine  Louise. 

"  Paris,  Dec.  22ik1,  IGOl. 

*'  When  you  write  to  Caroline  tell  her  that  I 
should  have  answered  her  letter  some  time  since 
had  I  known  what  I  ought  to  put  on  the  address. 
She  is  now  a  Duchess,  but  I  am  not  allowed  to 
give  her  that  title,  for  here  the  Prince  of  Orange 
is  not  acknowledged  King  of  England.  Equally  of 
course  his  Duchess  would  here  take  no  rank.  I, 
on  my  side,  do  not  wish  to  call  her  Countess  of 
Schomberg,  for  I  am  charmed  to  know  her  a 
Duchess " 


I 


MOTHER  OF  PHILIPPE  D^ORLEJNS.        49 


CHAPTER   in. 


1692  TO  1696. 


Mme.  de  Maintenon  persuaded  the  King  to  give 
Mdlle.  de  Blois*  in  marriage  to  the  Due  de 
Chartres,  Monsieur's  son,  representing  to  him  that 
he  would  thus  secure  a  hold  over  his  somewhat 
flighty  nephew.  Although  Madame  must  have 
been  well  aware  of  this  plot  against  her  most 
cherished  ideas  and  feelings  she  said  but  little  about 
it  in  her  letters.  When  Monsieur  cautiously  proposed 
the  thing  to  her  on  behalf  of  the  King,  she  burst  into 
tears  and  declared  that  nothing  would  induce  her 
to  give  her  consent  to  her  son's  thus  disgracing  him- 
self by  marrying  the  King's  illegitimate  daughter, 
but  on  Louis  XIV.  sending  for  her  she  gave  in. 
Saint  Simon  gives  a  strange  picture  of  the  Due  de 
Chartres  coming  up  to  his  mother  in  the  great 
gallery  at  Versailles  and  being  received  with  a 
smart  box  on  the  ear  before  the  whole  Court, 
assembled  together  to  have  the  marriage  officially 
announced, 

*  Daughter  of  Mme.  de  Montespan. 

£ 


Z-C. 


\ 


50 


LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF  THE 


To  THE  Electress  Sophia. 

"Versailles,  Feb.  21st,  1692. 

"  You  were  ill-informed  by  those  who  told  you 
that  I  had  behaved  like  a  child  on  the  occasion  of 
my  son's  marriage.     I  am  no  longer  of  an  age  to 

indulge  in  childish  conduct As  for    my 

daughter-in-law  I  shall  not  be  much  troubled  by 
her,  as  we  shall  not  be  so  often  together  as  to  get 
tired  of  one  another.  She  is  in  the  King's  set, 
which  is  a  sanctum  sanctorum^  where  simple  mortals 
such  as  myself  do  not  enter.  As  for  the  advan- 
tages that  will  accrue  to  my  son,  I  only  hope  that 
they  will  be  as  brilliant  as  you  have  been  told 
they  will  be;  but  as  everything  consists  as  yet 
in  promises  and  hopes,  I  am  not  charmed  with 
the  whole  affair ;  I  own  that  I  have  never  been 
able  to  understand  how  it  is  that  Monsieur,  who 
gets  on  so  admirably  with  his  brother,  was  not 
able  to  persuade  the  King  to  give  his  nephew 
enough  to  uphold  his  rank  without  forcing  him 
to  make  such  an  unequal  marriage.  .  . 


jj 


''  Paris,  March  5th,  1G92. 

"  Thank  God  for  all  his  mercies  !  M.  du  Maine's 
marriage  is  a  settled  thing,  so  one  of  my  troubles 
is  thus  lifted  from  me.  I  fancy  that  they  have 
informed  the  King's  old  wretch*  what  was  being 
said  in  Paris,  and  that  it  frightened  her.  The 
people  were  saying  that  although  it  was  a  disgrace 

*  Allusion  to  Mme.  de  Maiutenon. 


I 


\ 


MOTHER  OF  PHILIPPE  D^ORLEANS.        51 

for  the  King  to  arrange  a  marriage  between  one  of 
his  bastards  and  a  Prince  of  the  blood  belonging  to 
his  family,  yet,  as  the  husband  confers  rank  on  the 
woman  he  weds,  they  would  allow  that  marriage 
to  take  place,  though  much  against  their  feelings  ; 
but  that  if  the  old  woman  took  it  into  her  head  to 
give  my  daughter  to  M.  du  Maine,  they  would 
strangle  him  before  the  wedding,  and  that  the  old 
woman  whom  they  still  style  his  governess  should 
not  be  sure  of  her  life.  Whilst  all  this  was  being 
said,  the  rumour  arose  of  the  other  marriage  with 
the  Prince's  daughter,  which  pleases  everybody  in 
Paris.  I  am  grateful  to  the  worthy  Parisians  for 
their  having  thus  felt  an  interest  in  me. 

^^  I  am  going  to  tell  you  what  I  have  learnt  of 
the  sayings  of  Mme.  Cornuel.     I  do  not  know  if 
you  ever  heard  of    this  lady.      She  is  more  than 
^igh^y    years  old,  but  is  as  lively  as  though  she 
was  only  twenty-five.      She  it  is  who    said  once 
of   our  King    of   England,  after  having  seen  His 
Majesty,    'Let  our  King  do   what    he    will,  and*^ 
behave  well  to  the  King  of  England,  he  will  never 
make    anything   better  of    him  than    poor   man's 
sauce.'     Lately  she  came  to  Court  and  saw  Mme. 
de  Maintenon  and  M.  de  Barbezieux.     '  I  saw,'  said 
she,  '  the  most  singular  thing  in  the  world  when 
at  Court— Love  in  the  grave  and  the  Ministry  in  the 
cradle.'" 


u 


"  Versailles,  April  12th,  1G92. 

It  is  to  be  hoped  that  after  all  our  waiting 

E  2 


\ 


I 


ill 


52 


LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF  THE 


we  shall  finally  be  able  to  catcli  the  Due  de  Bour- 
^ogne;  *  he  would  not  be  a  bad  morsel.  You  are 
too  good  to  look  tlius  at  the  monkey-cat-bear  visage 
of  my  daughter,  but  her  figure  is  far  from  being  a 
bad  one " 

"  Saint  Cloud,  May  1st,  1C02. 

"  Time  alone  will  show  us  what  will  be  the 
result  of  this  descent  upon  England,  but  it  is 
difficult  to  suppose  that  the  Prince  of  Orange 
will  allow  the  three  kingdoms  to  be  taken  from 
him,  as  easily  as  he  contrived  to  take  them  from 
his  father-in-law " 

'*  Paris,  May  15tli,  1G92. 

"I  hear  that  the  King  of  England  can  only 
have  embarked  last  Sunday.  Tourville  has  an 
order,  signed  by  the  King's  own  hand,  to  attack  the 
enemy  as  soon  as  they  find  them.  So  we  shall 
soon  receive  the  news  of  a  naval  battle " 

«'  Saint  Cloud,  May  22na,  1692. 

*^  Although  these  good  people  are  my  neigh- 
bours, I  cannot  love  them  as  myself,  and  when  I 
examine  my  conscience  I  can  only  see  one  thing 
— which  is  that  I  care  for  those  that  love  me  or  at 
least  who  do  not  hate  me.  In  this  matter  I  find 
it  most   diflicult   to   follow   the   Holy  Scriptures. 


j> 


•  • 


"Paris,  June  8th,  1692. 

"  The  King's  old  monster  has  enjoyed  this  great 
power  for  a  long  time.      She  is  not  such  a  fool  as 


*  For  her  daughter. 


MOTHER  OF  PHILIPPE  D^ORLEANS,        53 

to  get  herself  acknowledged  Queen  ;  she  knows  her 
good  man's  temper  too  well.  If  she  did  such  a 
thing  she  would  soon  fall  into  disgrace  and  be 
utterly  lost. 

"  The  Venetian  Ambassador  has  spread  about  in 
the  King's  army  that  my  uncle  *  had  given  a 
million  (of  francs)  to  the  Emperor  to  be  made  Prince 
Elector.  It  seems  to  me  that  my  uncle  might  have 
made  a  better  bargain. 

''King  William  and  our  people  are  now  close 
upon  one  another.  Would  to  God  that  there  be 
no  battle!  The  great  manf  is  in  bed;  he  is  ill 
with  an  attack  of  gout.  I  think  that  the  naval 
battle  will  not  prove  a  soothing  remedy  for  his 
ills " 

"  Saint  Cloud,  June  12th,  1692. 

*'  The  news  of  a  great  battle  will  soon  be  here. 
My  heart  beats  when  I  think  of  it;  to  tell  the 
truth,  a  river  flows  between  our  people  and  the 
enemy,  but  I  hear  that  the  Prince  of  Orange  is 
making  bridges.  I  am  in  great  trouble  on  account 
of  my  boy." 

"  Saint  Cloud,  June  19th,  1692. 

"  To  tell  the  truth,  and  nothing  but  the  truth, 
our  good  King  James  is  an  honest  and  worthy  man, 
but  one  of  the  silliest  that  I  have  ever  seen ;  a 
child  of  seven  years  old  would  not  make  such  piti- 
ful mistakes — piety  renders  him  idiotic 


*  The  Duke  of  Hanover. 


t  Louis  XIV. 


54 


LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF  THE 


MOTHER  OF  PHILIPPE  D^ORLEANS. 


55 


i 


'^  I  would  lay  my  head  that  our  King  neither 
approved  nor  ordered  the  assassination,*  he  is  in- 
capable of  such  a  thing.  But  what  makes  me  think 
tliat  it  is  the  old  woman's  doing  is  that  I  have 
heard  that  she  told  the  King  that  she  had  learnt 
from  a  sure  source,  that  the  Prince  of  Orange  had 
sent  someone  to  Philippeville  to  poison  the  foun- 
tains ....  You  see  by  this  what  she  is  capable  of, 
for  I  am  sure  tliat  the  Prince  thought  as  little  of 
poisoning  the  fountains  as  I  do  of  going  to  hang 
myself " 

"  Saint  Cloud,  Aug.  9th,  1692. 

'^  I  must  tell  you  about  the  fright  I  had  last 
Monday,  which  thank  God  soon  became  changed 
into  joy.  I  was  already  undressed  and  just  getting 
into  bed  at  midnight,  when  I  suddenly  heard  Mon- 
sieur's voice  in  my  antechamber.  Knowing  that  lie 
was  already  gone  to  bed,  I  got  up  and  ran  to  meet 
him  to  see  what  was  the  matter.  In  his  hand  he 
held  an  open  letter,  and  he  said  to  me,  *  Do  not  be 
frightened,  your  son  has  been  wounded,  but  only 
slightly ;  there  has  been  a  great  battle  in  Flanders  ; 
the  King's  infantry  defeated  that  of  the  Prince  of 
Orange  ;  all  this  is  only  just  known;  the  King  tells 
me  that  no  further  details  have  yet  arrived.'  I 
leave  you  to  imagine  the  anguish  given  me  by  this 
news.  I  stayed  on  my  balcony  till  three  o'clock  in 
the  morning  to  see  if    any  messenger  came  from 

*  Grandval's  plot,    See  Macaulay's  William  III.  vol.  3,  chap.  i. 


my  son;  one  arrived  about  every  half -hour;  once 
was  brought  the  news  of  the  Marquis  de  Bellefond's 
death ;  again  the  announcement  that  M.  de  Turenne 
was  wounded  to  death ;  his  mother  and  his  mother- 
in-law,  Mnie.  de  Ventadour,  who  loves  him  like  a 
son,  are  here  ;  they  are  just  above  my  chamber 
and  I  can  hear  their  cries.  .  .  . 

^'  At  last,  the  next  day  after  lunch,  a  gentleman 
arrived  who  had  once  been  sub-governor  to  my  son — 
he  is  called  La  Berticre.  He  told  us  that  my  son  had 
been  shot  twice,  once  his  cloak  had  been  shattered, 
but  he  not  touched,  thank  God  !  the  other  ball 
penetrated  into  his  left  arm,  but  he  got  it  out  him- 
self. His  arm  bound  up  and  the  wound  attended 
to,  he  returned  to  the  scene  of  action  and  remained 
there  till  all  was  over.  ...  At  first  our  people  gave 
way,  the  English  and  Dutch  were  getting  over  the 
hedges  and  ditches,  they  had  already  taken  three 
cannons,  when  M.  de  Luxembourg  arrived  with  the 
guards,  the  Prince  de  Conti,  the  Duke,  and  my  son. 
They  rallied  the  hussars  and  led  them  forward 
themselves  towards  the  enemy.  This  inspired  the 
soldiers  with  fresh  courage,  so  much  so  that  they 
broke  down  everything  and  threw  the  enemy  so 
far  back  that  they  not  only  regained  their  own 
cannons  but  took  seven  from  the  others  .  .  .  ." 

'<  Saint  Cloud,  Sept.  18th,  1G92. 

^^  Apropos  of  letters  opened  at  the  poste,  allow 
me  to  tell  you  the  story  of  a  thing  which  happened 
several  years  ago.     The  Grande  Mademoiselle  re- 


i  • 


S6 


LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF  THE 


I 


ceives  several  letters  from  her  business  people,  and 
perceives  clearly  that  they  have  been  opened,. 
When  answering  them  she  adds,  'As  M.  de  Louvois 
is  Yery  clever,  and  as  he  will  see  this  letter  be- 
fore it  reaches  you,  I  beg  of  him,  when  opening  it, 
to  add  a  little  advice  on  my  affairs,  which  will  cer- 
tainly be  the  better  for  it ; '  since  then  they  have 
not  opened  her  letters." 

**  Versailles,  Jan.  1st,  1093. 
*'  There  is  more  stealing  than  ever  going  on  in 
Paris.  The  other  day  some  thieves  saw  a  coach 
in  which  sat  two  ladies,  who  had  diamond  ornaments 
stuck  into  their  headdresses.  They  began  to  call 
out,  '  Stop,  stop !  the  wheel  of  your  coach  is 
broken,  you  will  be  upset.'  The  coachman  stops, 
wishing  to  sec  what  has  happened ;  the  ladies  also, 
they  put  their  heads  out  of  the  window,  the  robbers 
seize  the  headdresses,  diamonds  and  all,  and  make 
off " 

'«  Marly,  April  9tli,  1693. 

"  Our  worthy  Grande  Mademoiselle  has  at  last 
come  to  the  end  of  her  troubles.  She  died  Sunday 
at  six  o'clock  in  the  evening,  and  Monday  the 
First  President  opened  her  will.  Monsieur  is 
universal  legatee.  She  leaves  the  Dauphin  her 
fine  house  at  Choisy,  founds  several  hospitals,  and 
leaves  something  to  all  her  servants.  Tliis  is  what 
is  embodied  in  her  will.  Yesterday  we  rendered 
her  the   last    honours,  giving    her    holy  water,  in 


MOTHER  OF  PHILIPPE  D^ORLEJNS,        $7 

long  cloaks  and  hoods.  She  died  from  the  igno- 
rance of  her  doctors;  they  did  not  know  from 
what  she  was  suffering,  and  stuffed  her  so  with 
emetics  that  the  inflammation  set  in  which  carried 
her  off. 

''  To  make  people  think  that  he  was  really 
married  to  her,  Lauzun  asked  a  lady  in  marriage 
immediately  after  her  death,  although  he  knew 
the  former  was  engaged,  and  that  the  King  had 
already  signed  the  contract.  The  day  after  the 
will  was  opened,  that  is  to  say  Tuesday,  he  showed 
himself  before  the  King  and  royal  family  in  a 
long  cloak.  After  having  stayed  three-quarters 
of  an  hour  with  Monsieur,  he  left  the  chamber, 
returning  a  moment  afterwards  with  a  large 
packet,  sealed  six  times  with  Mademoiselle's  own 
seal.  This  he  presented  to  Monsieur,  saying,  'Apro- 
pos, I  forgot  to  give  you  this  paper,  which  Made- 
moiselle gave  six  years  ago  to  Madame  de  Noguet 
to  keep  for  her'  (she  is  Lauzun's  sister).  Mon- 
sieur replied  that  he  could  not  open  the  packet, 
that  it  must  be  sent  to  the  First  President.  This 
packet  greatly  troubled  the  Dauphin  and  Mon- 
sieur, for  if  it  had  been  another  will  made  six 
years  ago  they  would  have  inherited  nothing,  as 
the  one  opened  just  after  Mademoiselle's  death  was 
dated  eight  years  ago,  in  1685.  At  midnight 
Monsieur  was  told  that  the  packet  had  been  opened, 
and  had  contained  a  will  dated  1670.  Lauzun,  who 
must  have  known  this,  probably  wished  to  amuse 


i 


«    I 


58 


LIFE  JND  LETTERS  OF  THE 


II 


f 


.11 


111 

111 


himself  ;  this  shows  him  to  be  wicked — an  ungrate- 
ful animal." 

"  CoLOMTiEs,  An,G:.  22ncl,  1G93. 

"  My  son  led  the  cavalry  he  commands  five 
different  times  at  the  enemy,  and  during  two  hours 
he  stood  under  fire  ....  If  my  son  did  not  serve  in 
a  campaign  every  year  he  would  be  despised  and 
lose  all  consideration." 

"Paris,  23  Dec,  1694. 

"  We  nearly  lost  our  theatre  lately.  The  Sor- 
bonne,  to  please  the  King,  tried  to  forbid  it,  but 
the  Archbishop  of  Paris  and  Father  La  Chaise  must 
have  told  them  that  it  would  be  too  dangerous  to 
put  an  end  to  innocent  amusements,  as  it  would 
lead  to  the  young  falling  into  real  vices.  ...  I  shall 
continue  to  go  to  the  theatre  till  they  put  an  end 
to  it.  A  fortnight  ago  there  was  a  sermon  against 
theatres,  saying  that  play-acting  revived  evil  pas- 
sions. The  King  turned  to  me  and  said,  '  He  is  not 
preaching  at  me  who  no  longer  go  to  the  theatre, 
but  at  you  others  who  go  and  approve.'  ^Although 
I  am  fond  of  comedies,'  I  answered,  '  and  go  there 
frequently,  M.  d'Agen  is  not  thinking  of  me,  for  he 
only  speaks  of  those  who  go  there  to  revive  their 
passions,  which  I  do  not  do.  The  theatre  simply 
amuses  me,  there  is  no  harm  in  that.'  The  King 
did  not  say  a  word  more.  .  .  P 

"  Versailles,  Jan.  16th,  1695. 

"  The  theatre  is  always  so  full  in  Paris  that  the 


MOTHER  OF  PHILIPPE  D'ORLEANS.        59 

spectators  are  mixed  up  with  the  actors,  which  is 
very  disagreeable.  Then  again  nothing  can  be 
more  dull  than  our  evenings  in  Paris;  Monsieur 
plays  at  lansquenet  at  a  large  table ;  but  I  am  not 
allowed  to  approach  or  show  myself,  for  Monsieur 
thinks  that  I  bring  him  ilMuck,  yet  he  obliges  me 
to  stay  in  the  apartment,  so  all  the  old  women  who 
do  not  play  have  to  be  entertained  by  me.  This 
goes  on  from  seven  to  ten,  and  makes  me  yawn 
frightfully.  Every  two  days  I  have  to  go  after 
dinner  to  Port-Royal,  so  as  not  to  break  one  of  my 
oldest  customs,  but  I  no  longer  go  with  the  same 
pleasure  as  before." 

''■  Versailles,  Feb.  3rd,  1695. 

"  The  cold  is  so  intense  that  one  hardly  knows 
what  to  do.  Yesterday,  during  high  mass,  I  thought 
that  my  feet  were  becoming  frozen,  for  when  with 
the  King  no  one  is  allowed  foot-warmers.  I  had 
a  very  funny  conversation  with  our  King.  He 
was  scolding  me  for  wearing  a  scarf.  'No  one 
has  ever  been  in  the  procession  with  a  scarf,'  said 
he.  '  Perhaps  so/  replied  I ;  *  but  we  have  never 
had  such  cold  weather  before.'  '  Before  this  time 
you  never  wore  one,'  said  the  King.  '  Before  this 
time  I  was  younger  and  more  able  to  bear  the 
cold,'  I  observed.  '  There  were  many  older  than 
you  are  who  did  not  wear  any  scarves,'  said  he. 
'In  that  case,'  I  replied,  'those  old  women  pre- 
ferred to  be  frozen  to  putting  on  an  ugly  thing, 
and  I  prefer  to  be  badly  dressed  than  that  my  chest 


I 


J 


60 


LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF  THE 


sliould  freeze,  for  I  do  not  go  in  for  vanities.'     To 
this  he  answered  naught." 

Madame  had  many  similar  passages-at-arms  with 
tlie  King.  His  extreme  piety  greatly  troubled  her, 
for  as  she  grew  older  she  found  great  pleasure  in 
going  to  the  play,  one  of  the  things  Louis  XIV. 
took  to  disliking  in  his  old  age,  and  she  feared  lest 
he  might  prevail  on  the  Archbishop  of  Paris  to 
forbid  the  playhouses  as  scandalous  and  frivolous. 
As  (lie  following  will  prove,  Madame  could  not  be 
accused  of  vanity  by  her  contemporaries. 

To  THE  Raugravine  Louise. 

"Versailles,  March  5th,  1G95. 

"  I  do  not  understand  why  people  require  so 
many  different  costumes  ;  my  only  habiliments 
consist  of  my  grand  State  robe,  and  my  riding- 
habit  when  I  hunt  on  horseback ;  nothing  else.  I 
never  in  my  whole  life  wore  a  dressing-gown  or 
mantle,  and  in  my  wardrobe  there  is  but  one  bed- 
crown  in  which  I  ffet  in  and  out  of  bed. 

"  I  felt  sure  that  Caroline  *  would  take  much  to 
heart  Queen  Mary's  t  death.  All  those  who  knew 
her  praised  her  exceedingly.  King  James  of 
England,  whom  we  have  here,  did  not  wish  us  to 
go  into  mourning  for  his  daughter  ;  indeed,  he 
begged  us  not  to  do  so.  This  greatly  surprised  me, 
for  I  think  that  one  cannot  forget  one's  own  children 

•  Madame's  half-sister,  married  to  Marshal  Schomberg. 

t  Mary,  daughter  of  James  II.,  married  to  William  of  Orange. 


1 


1 


MOTHER  OF  PHILIPPE  D^ORLEANS.        61 

however  badly  they  have  behaved  ;  surely  blood  is 
thicker  than  water.  After  the  description  given 
me  of  Prince  William  I  should  not  have  thought 
him  so  attached  to  his  wife ;  I  grieve  for  him  with 
all  my  heart.  If  I  had  been  allowed  to  I  should 
have  written  to  Caroline  charging  her  with  my 
compliments  and  condolences.  It  is  so  bitterly 
cold  that  the  wine  as  well  as  water  freezes  in  the 
glasses  at  the  King's  table." 

To  the  Electress  Sophia. 

"  Marly,  March  16th,  1695. 
"  6  o'clock  in  the  evening. 

'^  The  most  important  thing  is  that  King  Wil- 
liam's health  is  re-established ;  his  grief  will  pass 
away  in  the  course  of  time.  Just  now  the  King 
allows  me  to  sleep  all  through  the  sermon " 

"  Choisy,  April  7th,  1695. 

*^  The  Amadis  *  greatly  amused  me.  This  is  the 
reason  why  I  remember  it  all  so  well,  but  I  had 
not  the   patience  to   read   the  whole  twenty-four 

volumes  as  did  my  uncle I  do  not  believe 

that  the  Abbe  de  Locume  will  soon  attain  his  wish 
of  uniting  together  all  the  sects  of  the  Christian 
relioion,  for  where  material  interests  are  at  stake 
people  do  not  easily  give  way.  I  do  not  think  that 
M.  de  Meaux  *  wishes  it ;  if  everyone  was  of  the 
same  faith,  bishops  and  priests  would  have  no- 
thing left  to  say.  .  . 


J) 


*  A  much-read  romance. 


f  Bossuet. 


\\    ! 


62 


LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF  THE 


"  Paris,  May  Ist,  1C95. 

*'!  think  that  since  piety  has  become  the  fashion 
at  Court,  dramatic  authors  imagine  that  their 
pieces  would  be  more  welcome  if  they  added  in 
a  little  devotion.  At  first  their  plan  succeeded, 
but  now  no  one  can  bear  their  comedies.  When 
the  actors  announced  that  they  were  going  to  give 
another  f)lay  of  this  sort,  the  pit  called  out,  '  We 
don't  want  any  more  of  that  sort !  '  '  Why  so  ?  ' 
replied  the  others,  '  it  has  been  much  applauded.' 
The  pit  replied,  '  This  play  *  was  not  hissed 
because  it  was  acted  during  Lent,  and  we  were  all 
occupied  in  hissing  the  Abbe  Boileau's  sermon  at 
Versailles.'     This  was  an  amusing  answer." 

To  THE  Raxtoravine  Louise. 

**  Paris,  May  14th,  1695. 

^^  Dancing  is  no  longer  the  fashion.  Here  as 
soon  as  a  few  find  themselves  together  they  begin 
to  play  at  lansquenet ;  it  is  the  game  most  in  vogue ; 
young  men  no  longer  care  to  dance.  As  for  me  I 
do  neither  the  one  nor  the  other,  being  much  too 
old  for  dancing,  having  indeed  given  it  up  on  our 
father's  death.  I  never  play  for  two  very  good 
reasons  :  firstly,  that  I  have  no  money ;  secondly, 
that  I  do  not  care  for  gambling.  Enormous  sums  are 
played  for  here,  the  players  being  as  those  pos- 
sessed ;  one  yells,  another  strikes  the  table  so  hard 
with  his  fist  that  the  whole  room  shakes,  a  third 
swears  in  such  a  manner  as  to  cause  one's  hair  to 

*  Judith  y  a  tragedy  by  the  Abbe  Boyer. 


MOTHER  OF  PHILIPPE  D^ORLEJNS. 


63 


stand  on  end— all    seem  not  themselves,  and  are 
fearful  to  w^itness. 

''  In  Paris  one  does  not  enjoy  very  fine  weather, 
yet  I  go  out  in  my  coach  when  I  can ;  twice  I 
rode  at  a  stag-hunt ;  perhaps  you  will  say  that  I 
am  too  old  to  go  a-hunting,  and  I  quite  agree,  still  I 
prefer  to  be  ridiculous  to  being  ill,  and  there  is 
nothing  better  for  my  pains  than  violent  exercise 
and  riding,  so  I  bravely  continue  to  hunt." 

'*  FONTAINEBLEAU,  Oct.  8th,  1695. 

''I  am  very  grateful  to  you  for  rejoicing  witli 
me  on  my  son's  arrival.  He  was  ill  some  little 
time,  but  since  he  is  here  he  has  got  better,  through 
playing  and  hunting,  and  is  quite  well  now,  thank 
God. 

''  Marshal  de  BoufHers  has  certainly  been  cele- 
brated in  song  here.  Here  are  some  verses  composed 
in  his  honour — they  are  sung  on  the  tune  of 
JoGonde : 

*  Quoy  Bouffier  due  (?)  on  a  grand  tord, 
C'cst  insiilter  la  France. 
Guillaume  I'aurait  fait  milord 
C'est  sa  vray  recompense,  etc' 

^^  You  see  by  this  that  everything  is  here  put 
into  verse. 

*^  You  speak  of  your  face,  which  you  style  old- 
fashioned:  you  forget  that  I  am  ten  years  older 
than  you  are.  It  is  not  my  place  to  speak  of 
others'  faces — I  neither  like  nor  liate  people  on 


*! 


M 


64 


LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF  THE 


account  of  their  ugliness  or  beauty.  We  ought  to  say 
with  Jodelet,*  '  Sir,  if  we  were  our  own  creators, 
nothhig  but  fine  persons  would  exist.' 

"  As  far  as  I  can  see,  Francfort  is  now  the 
rendezvous  of  all  German  Princes,  and  the  great 
world  meets  at  the  Countess  Hohenlohe's.  I  have  a 
portrait  of  the  Count  Palatine,  Charles  the  Third's 
wife,  done  when  she  was  still  Margravine  of 
Brandebourg.  She  does  not  look  pretty,  and  unless 
she  has  improved  in  looks  since  has  no  call  to  be 
vain.  It  seems  to  me  that  the  Elector  Palatine 
would  do  better  to  help  the  poor  inhabitants  of 
the  Palatinate  who  are  in  extreme  misery  rather 
than  spend  his  substance  in  the  amusements  of  the 
carnivals— it  would  add  more  to  his  consideration 
both  in  the  sight  of  God  and  of  men." 

About  this  time  Madame  seriously  applied  her- 
self to  the  task  of  getting  her  daughter  married  to 
William  III.  She  wrote  to  the  Electress  Sophia  that 
the  Dauphin  had  greatly  wished  to  wed  the  Duchesse 
de   Chartres,    but   that  Mme.    de   Maintenon   had 

prevented  it. 

We  know  little  of  the  young  Charlotte  Elizabeth 
whom  her  mother  hoped  to  see  Queen  of  England, 
but  we  hear  that  though  not  handsome  she  had  a 
pretty  figure,  and  was  very  well  and  strictly 
brought  up,  differing  in  every  way  from  her  sister- 
in-law,  Mme.  de  Maintenon's  foster- daughter. 

*  Le  Jodelet,  comedy  by  Scarron. 


MOTHER  OF  PHILIPPE  D^ORLEANS.        65 

To  THE  Electress  SoniiA. 

'' FoNTAiNEBLEAU,  Oct.  22nd,  1695. 

'^  The  tone  has  quite  changed  about  King  Wil- 
liam ;  *  one  hears  everywhere, '  He  is  a  great  King, 
and  worthy  of  his  position.  His  is  a  master 
mind,'  and  similar  things.  You  are  indeed  right 
when  you  say  that  only  those  in  luck  ever  get 
the  world's  praise— this  is  why  King  William  is  so 
much  thought  of.  Everything  here  is  settled  by 
fashion,  they  speak  only  too  freely  of  both  friends 
and  foes.  Royal  blood  does  not  shield  one— indeed 
lampoons  are  generally  written  about  crowned 
heads ;" 

To  THE  Raugravine  LouisE. 

*' Marly,  Dec.  1st,  1605. 

^'  Herr  Fabricius  writes  me  that  he  intends 
coming  to  Saint  Cloud  when  peace  is  declared.  I 
have  not  time  to-day  to  answer  his  epistle ;  pray 
tliank  him  for  me,  and  say  that  I  shall  be  delighted 
to  see  him  at  Saint  Cloud.  Between  ourselves,  if  he 
comes  here  he  must  never  call  me  your  Highness ; 
this  title  is  good  for  the  Princes  of  the  blood;  we  and 
our  children  are  styled  *  Royal  Highness ; '  only  the 
children  of  France  have  right  to  this  title " 


"Versailles,  Dec.  lltli,  1695. 

^^  I  feel  greatly  pleased  on  being  told  that  I  am 
said  to  have  a  German  heart,  and  that  I  love  my 
country.     I  shall  try  with  God's  help  to  merit  this 


William  III.  of  En.i'land. 


f 


66 


LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF  THE 


account  till  the  day  of  my  death.  My  heart  is 
still  German,  for  I  cannot  console  myself  for  Avhat 
has  happened  in  the  poor  Palatinate  ;  when  I  think 
of  it  I  am  sad  the  whole  day.     . 

^'Nothing  can  be  more  wretched  than  tlie  fate 
destined  to  Queens  in  Spain.  I  know  this  from 
the  late  Queen,  who  recounted  to  me  the  life  she 
led  day  by  day.  In  Portugal  it  is  even  worse, 
and  shows  the  truth  of  that  saying,  'All  that 
glitters  is  not  gold.' " 


MOTHER  OF  PHILIPPE  D^ORLEJNS.        67 


CHAPTER  IV. 


1G96  TO  1608. 


"  Versailles,  Jan.  1st,  1C96. 

*'The  messenger  Lasalle  would  indeed  have 
given  me  pleasure  by  bringing  your  portraits.  I 
will  try  and  find  out  which  way  the  rogue  came. 
I  will  send  you  mine  (portrait)  in  my  hunting- 
habit,  because  this  likeness  is,  or  rather  was,  the 
best  of  me  ever  done;  for  since  I  had  the  small 
pox  I  have  not  cared  to  be  painted — just  now  I  am 
uglier  than  ever." 

To  THE   ElECTKESS   Soi'lllA. 

''Versailles,  Feb.  5th,  1G9G. 

^'  During  the  last  two  days  that  I  spent  in  Paris 
two  different  persons  came  and  asked  me  whether 
I  was  aware  of  what  was  being  said  about  me ; 
the  Chevalier  de  Bouillon  seems  to  have  boasted 
pul)licly,  both  at  the  theatre  and  at  the  opera,  that 
I  was  greatly  in  love  with  him,  and  this  lie  said 
in  such  insolent  terms  that  no  one  dared  to  re2)eat 
them  to  me.  I  answered  that  anything  said  by  the 
Chevalier  de  Bouillon  could  injure  nobody,  as  owing 

f2 


68  LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF  THE 

to  his  being    a  drunkard  and  a  liar  his  word  is 
never  taken,  but  that  if    he  continued  these  ami- 
able discourses  about  me  I  should  cover  him  with 
such  ridicule  as  should  last  him  his  lifetime.     After 
this  I  neither  saw  nor  thought  of  the  Chevalier  dc 
Bouillon,  till  last  Monday,  going  into  our  theatre 
here,  I  perceived  some  young  men  laughing  at  mc, 
and  pointing  to  the  Chevalier.     This  aroused  my 
anger.      We  were  talking  of  the  word  '  to  accost,' 
sol  said  aloud,   '  Tliere  is  a  fellow  up  there  that  I 
shall  soon  accost.'     '  Wlio  ? '  asked  the  Dauphin. 
'  The  Chevalier  de  Bouillon,'  I  replied ;    '  I  hear 
from  all  sides  that  he  boasts  of   my  affection  for 
him :   as  this  is  news  to  me  I  mean   to   ask  him 
which  are  the  great  and  good  qualities  that  have  so 
touched  me ;    and  if  he  continues  his  amiabilities 
I  shall  be  forced  to  ask  the  King  to  send  far  away 
tlic  torch  which  is  reducing  my  heart  to  ashes,'  I 

ended  laughing. 

«  The  Dauphin  immediately  told  my  son  to  com- 
mand the  Chevalier  never  to  find  himself  in  my 
presence   again.      That   same  evening  his  father, 
M.  de  Bouillon,  came  to  me  and  said  how  grieved 
he  was  to  think  of  his  son  being  falsely  accused 
of  insulting  me.     He  asked  me  to  inform  him  of 
the  people  who  had   told  me :    if    men,   his   son 
should  fight  them ;  if  women,  he  would  cut  off  their 
nosei.     I  began  to  laugh  and  replied,   '  The  King 
has  forbidden  all  forms  of  duelling,  but  your  son 
would  have  plenty  to  do  for  some  time  to    come 


MOTHER  OF  PHILIPPE  D'ORLEJNS.        69 

if  lie  fou"-ht  with  all  those  who  heard  his  im- 
pcrtiiicnt  speeches  at  the  opera  and  at  the  theatre.' 
....  Tliis  affair  has  been  much  talked  about  and 
discussed  at  Court.  More  than  half  the  folk  say 
that  I  was  quite  right,  considering  the  times  we 
have  at  present,  to  frighten  the  young  man  and 
force  Iiim  to  respect  me;  others  think  that  I 
ought  to  have  complained  privately  to  the  King. 


>> 


It  is  strange  that  Madame's  first  and  last  love- 
affair  should  have  occurred  two  years  after  she 
was  a  grandmother,*  and  that  a  courtier  should 
have  so  utterly  mis-estimated  her  character  as  to 
suppose  that  she  would  tolerate,  much  less  encour- 
age, such  an  absurdity.  In  this  matter  the  Dauphin 
seems  to  have  acted  properly,  the  truth  being 
that  all  the  members  of  the  royal  family,  with 
the  exception  of  the  King,  stood  in  great  awe  of 
her. 

To  THE  Raugravine  Loui«e. 

"Versailles,  Feb.  lltli,  1G9G. 

'^  Sometimes  marriages  turn  out  well,  but  quite 
as  exceptions— not  two  in  a  thousand.  It  may  be 
said  of  happy  marriages  as  of  the  phoenix— there  is 

but  one  a  century By  what  you  tell  me 

of  German  youths  I  see  that  they  resemble  those 
here— there  is  but  little  to  hope  for  from  them.     I 

*  The  Regent's  son,  born  1694. 


MMMWB 


I 


I 


I  I 


70  LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF  THE 

think  that  war  is  the  cause,  for  it  gives  them  the 
tone  and  manners  of  common  soldiers " 

To  THE  Electress  Sophia. 

"  Marly,  March  1st,  1096. 

^^  We  are  soon  going  to  have  a  weary  time  here, 
for  a  Jubilee  is  due.  This  is  ill-named,  as  nothing 
can  be  more  wearisome.  One  must  be  perpetually 
stuck  in  church,  eat  fish,  always  fast,  and  com- 
municate. Again,  all  the  time  the  thing  continues, 
no  amusements,  operas,  or  plays  are  allowed.  King 
James  will  celebrate  his  Jubilee  on  sea,  for  he 
went  off  yesterday  to  Calais,  where  he  will  embark 
with  an  army  for  England.  Sal  den  tied  lerm"^ 
what  will  come  of  it.  .  . 


MOTHER  OF  PHILIPPE  D^ORLEANS. 


71 


* 


r 


To  THE  Kaugravine  Louise. 

"  Versailles,  March  25th,  1G9G. 

"  I  was  already  too  old  when  I  came  to  France 
to  change  my  character.  This  is  not  surjmsing, 
for  the  base  of  it  was  laid  before  I  arrived.  But  1 
should  be  indeed  inexcusable  were  I  deceitful  and 
double-faced,  and  if  I  did  not  love  those  for  whom 
I  ought  to  feel  aflection.  You  are  right  in  saying 
that  I  write  what  I  feel  to  be  the  truth " 

To  THE  Electress  Sophia. 

"  Versailles,  April  1st,  1G9G. 

*'  The  French  cannot  forego  the  pleasure  of 
making  fun  of  others.  They  must  laugh  at  all 
they  hear.     Now  that  they  see  that  King  James 


«  li 


Time  must  show  hs."     (Dutch.) 


'II 


does  not  return,  and  that  there  Is  nothing  further 
to  be  done,  they  have  chalked  this  up  over  Paris  : 
'  One  hundred  florins  reward  to  anyone  who  can 
invent  a  good  reason  to  make  the  King  of  England 
come  back  to  Saint  Germains.'  This  amused  me 
so  that  I  could  not  help  laughing,  although  I  am 
heartily  sorry  for  the  good  King. 

"  I  have  already  told  you  that  the  attempted 
assassination  Is  entirely  disowned  here.  The  King 
said,  '  The  Prince  of  Orange  must  do  me  the  justice 
of  disbelieving  that  I  wished  to  have  him  assassl- 
nated,  for  he  Is  aware  that  I  kept  some  persons  two 
years  Imprisoned  for  having  simply  proposed  to  rid 
me  of  him.'  You  can  see  by  this  that  our  King 
had  nothing  to  do  with  It.  No  doubt  the  con- 
spirators settled  everything  among  themselves. 
Perhaps  the  Duke  of  Berwick,  who  Is  somewhat 
brutal,  proposed  this  thing  In  the  name  of  the  two 
Kings  without  their  having  thought  of  it,  for  I 
have" learnt  lately  that  the  said  Duke  Is  somewhat 
out  of  favour  here " 

To  TiiR  Eaucravise  LorisE. 

"Versailles,  April  8tli,  1C90. 

"  A  most  annoying  thing  has  occurred  to  me.  I 
had  had  my  portrait  taken  to  give  to  Caroline,  and 
ordered  one  of  my  daughter  from  a  good  painter, 
who  promised  to  do  it.  When  I  thought  It  was 
finished  I  sent  to  him  for  It ;  he  replied  that  he 
had  not  done  the  portrait,  for  as  he  bad  once  done 


J 


I  r 
I 


iii 


)l 


72  LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF  THE 

one  for  Jlonsiciir  and  liad  not  been  paid,  lie  Imagined 
that  I  should  not  pay  either,  and  so  avoided  obey- 


ing me. 


57 


"  Yersaim.es,  May  lotli,  lOOG. 

<'  I  have  found  another  pointer  now,  and  hope 
to  be  able  to  send  you  and  Caroline  the  three  por- 
traits in  time 

<^  It  seems  that  King  "William  is  not  at  all  cruel, 
for  he  himself  took  care  to  give  his  father-in-law  time 
to  escape  with  his  family.  I  think  that  he  does 
not  wish  harm  to  come  to  the  Duke  of  Berwick  on 
account  of  the  latter's  extraordinary  likeness  to  his 
wife  (Queen  Mary).  Our  Queen  of  England*  here 
has  a  portrait  of  her  late  daughter-in-law ;  when 
she  showed  it  me  I  thought  that  it  was  the  Duke 
of  Berwick  in  petticoats.  Of  course  they  are  such 
near  relations  that  this  likeness  is  not  surprising. 
Now  it  is  evident  here  that  King  William  is  a  man 
of  heart,  and  I  was  in  the  right  when  I  said  so.'' 

To  THE  Electress  Sophia. 

"Marly,  May  16th,  i69G. 

"  One  cannot  image  how  silly  the  great  man  is 
where  religion  is  concerned— he  is  so  in  nothing 
else.  It  is  because  he  has  never  read  anything 
treating  of  religion,  or  the  Bible,  so  he  believes  any- 
thincr  told  liim  on  tliese  matters.  Then,  when  he 
had  a  mistress  who  was  not  pious,  he  gave  up  piety 

♦  Mary  of  ^fodena. 


MOTHER  OF  PHILIPPE  D^ORLEANS.        73 

too,  but  since  he  has  fallen  in  love  with  a  woman 
who  talks  of  nothing  but  penance,  he  believes  all 
that  she  says,  to  such  a  point  that  when  the  lady 
and  the  confessor  disagree  he  puts  more  faith  in 
her  than  in  the  other." 

"  Saint  Cloud,  May  20tb,  1G9G. 

^'  I  must  own  that  when  I  hear  the  great  man 
praised  in  a  sermon  for  his  persecution  of  the  re- 
formed,  I  am  always  impatient ;  I  cannot  hear  bad 
actions  being  praised." 

^'  JSaint  Cloud,  IMay  23r(l,  1090. 
^a  do  not  like  kings  thinking  that  they  please 
the  Lord  much  by  prayer.  It  is  not  for  that  that 
He  has  placed  them  on  thrones,  but  to  do  good— ad- 
minister justice  fairly  and  rightly.  In  these  actions 
ought  we  to  see  kings'  devotions.  Also  they  ought 
to  see  that  priests  keep  to  their  prayers,  and  not 
meddle  with  anything  else.  When  a  king  says  his 
morning  and  evening  prayers,  he  has  done  all  he 
need;  again,  he  ought  to  make  his  subjects  as 
happy  as  he  can.  ..." 

"  Saint  Cloud,  June  3rcl,  1096. 

*'  King  James  himself  owns  that  if  they  had  been 
in  Holland  instead  of  invading  the  Palatine  States 
he  would  still  be  on  his  throne  ;  I  once  talked  with 
him  about  it.  Yet  there  is  one  thing  that  I  have 
never  been  able  to  understand  and  which  I  have 
never  dared  ask  liim,  Why  did  he  not  employ  the 
thirty  thousand  pistoles  that  he  had  in  England  to 


i 

1 


.^1 


III 


( 


74  LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF  THE 

do  good  and  gain  the  hearts  of  his  subjects  so  that 
tliey  should  remain  loyal  to  him  ?  Also,  why  did 
he  not  take  away  this  money  with  him,  instead  of 
leaving  it  beliind  in  his  business-room?  This 
appears  to  me  to  have  been  a  very  foolish  piece  of 
business " 

To  THE  Raugravine  Louise. 

"  Saint  Cloud,  June  lltli,  1G96. 

^af   my  aunt  had  not  told  me  that  you  were 
going  to  Holland  I  should  have  been  indeed  sur- 
prised to  have  received  a  letter  from  you  dated  the 
Hague.      My  health  is  now  fairly  good— as  usual  I 
got  rid  of  my  fever  by  hunting.     I  have  had  the 
joy  of  being  able  to  be  of  service  to  some  of  the 
prisoners  sent  to  this  country.     I  cannot  do  much, 
but  I  would  spare  notliing  to  be  of  use  to  my  own 
country -people.     I  remember  the  Hague  perfectly, 
and  found  it  a  very  good  town,  but  the  air  there  is 
not  equal  to  that  of  the  Palatine  States  ;  and  every- 
thing has   become   very   dear   in   Holland.     King 
William  is  no  longer  at  Loo— he  is  at  the  head  of 
his  army.     I  hope  to  God  that  there  will  be  no 
battle ; '  I  cannot  think  of   such  a   thing   without 
trembling  on  account  of  my  son.     The  fate  of  the 
poor  Palatine  people  goes  to  my  heart,  but  I  can 
do  nothing.     Let  us  both  hope  for  peace,  for  it  is 
indeed  necessary  just  now." 

Peace  was  declared  at  llyswick  somewhat  later. 
Madame  trembled  for  the  life  of  her  son,  who  was 
extremely  brave  and  always  exposing  himself,  and 


MOTHER  OF  PHILIPPE  D^ORLEANS,        75 

that  of  William  III.  whom  she  was  already  seeking 
for  a  son-inlaw. 

Doctor  Fagon,  of  whom  Madame  gives  so 
graphic  a  description  in  her  next  letter,  played  an 
important  part  at  Court.  As  the  King's  own  phy- 
sician he  knew  a  great  deal  of  what  went  on.  His 
curious  diary,  which  was  published  some  years  ago, 
excited  much  interest,  being  the  only  medical  diary 
of  that  date  which  has  been  preserved.  Madame, 
who  intensely  disliked  all  doctors,  specially  de- 
tested Fagon,  thinking  him  ''capable  of  anything." 
And  in  an  age  when  poison  played  such  an  impor- 
tant part  in  the  history  of  European  Courts,  le 
Jledicm  du  Boy  literally  held  life  and  death  in 
his  hands. 

To  THE  Electress  Sophia. 

"  Port  Royal,  Sunday,  July  loth,  1G06. 

''  All  that  is  being  said  as  to  the  other  world 
is  incomprehensible  to  me.  Iletemssycosus  would 
not  displease  me,  provided  one  could  recollect  what 
one  had  already  been  previously.  .... 

'*  Doctor  Fagon  is  a  character  of  which  it  is 
difficult  to  give  you  an  idea.  His  legs  are  as  thin 
as  those  of  a  bird,  his  mouth  is  filled  with  black 
teeth,  his  large  lips  cause  his  mouth  to  have  habit- 
ually a  pouting  expression;  he  has  sunken  eyes, 
dark  yellow  skin,  a  long  face,  and  looks  as  spiteful 
as  he  is  in  reality.  But  he  is  very  intelligent 
and  polite.     By  this  description  you  may  see  how 


76 


LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF  THE 


difficult  it  is  to  gain  an  idea  of  tliis  personage.  I 
liope  with  all  niv  heart  that  what  the  Duchesse  of 
Ostfriesland  wrote  3'ou  may  come  to  pass,  namely, 
that  a  general  peace  will  be  declared,  and  that  my 
daiu'-hter  will  Aved  the  Due  de  Lorraine,  for  by 
what  I  observe  she  would  be  happier  with  this 
Duke  than  with  the  King  of  Germany " 

To  THE  RaUi; RAVINE  LoUISE. 

^'  Saint  Cloud,  July  22nd,  1G9G. 

^^  My  very  dear  Louise,— I  learnt  last  evening  by 
the  Gazette  de  Hollande  that  Almighty  God  has 
seen  fit  to  call  Caroline  to  Himself.  Believe  me,  I 
feel  all  the  gravity  of  this  loss,  and  I  grieve  for 
you  from  the  bottom  of  my  heart.  I  can  imagine 
the  trouble  this  sad  event  must  have  thrown  you 
into.  May  the  All-powerful  God  console  you,  and 
send  you  many  joys  when  your  grief  is  ended.  .  .  . 
I  only  beg  of  you  to  send  the  enclosed  letter  to  the 
Duke  of  Schomberg.  I  am  writing  to  him  in 
French,  not  knowing  how  to  treat  him  in  German, 
nor  what  title  to  name  him  by. 

'^  Remain  assured  of  all  the  affection  I  bear  to 
you  all ;  you  would  certainly  not  doubt  of  it  if 
you  had  witnessed  all  the  tears  I  shed  on  hearing 
of  Caroline's  death.  Present  also  my  sympathies 
to  Charles  iVFaurice  and  embrace  him  for  me.'' 

To  THE  Electress  Sophia. 

"  Saint  Cloud,  July  2Gtli,  1696. 

1      ^^  They  were  saying  the  other  day  at  Saint  Ger- 


\ 


I 


MOTHER  OF  PHILIPPE  D'ORLEANS.        77 

mains  before  the  little  English  Princess  that  the 
Due  de  Bourgogne  is  to  wed  the  Princess  of  Savoy. 
The  good  child  began  crying  bitterly,  exclaiming 
that  she  had  always  believed  that  the  Due  de 
BourffOffne  would  wed  none  but  herself,  and  that 
if  he  was  really  going  to  wed  a  Princess  of  Savoy 
she  would  never  marry,  but  retire  into  a  convent. 
Since  she  has  been  told  the  news  she  has  remained 
mournful  and  cannot  be  consoled " 

The  little  English  Princess  here  mentioned  was 
Louisa  Stuart,  James  IL's  favourite  child,  and  the 
only  daughter  of  Mary  of  Modena.  She  was  born 
at  Saint  Germains,  and  never  saw  England,  for  she 
died  at  the  age  of  twenty-one,  much  regretted  by 
all  the  members  of  the  French  royal  family,  to 
whom  she  had  endeared  herself  by  her  sweetness 
and  kindliness  of  heart.  A  charming  portrait,  now 
in  the  small  gallery  of  Versailles,  shows  us  the  little 
English  Princess  playing  with  her  brother  at  hide- 
and-seek  in  the  gardens  of  the  chateau. 

"  Saint  Cloud,  Sunday  morning,  July  29tli,  1696. 

''It  is  easy  for  you  to  understand  that  I  hope 
with  all  my  heart  for  my  daughter's  marriage 
with  the  King  of  the  Romans,*  but  I  hear  that 
the  Emperor  is  far  from  desiring  it,  and  I  much 
doubt  whether  our  King  will  really  bestir  himself ; 
for  by  what  I  am  told  the  old  wretch  has  still  the 

^  King  of  Germany. 


?• 


78 


LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF  THE 


dirty  little  beggar  *  in  her  mind,  and  wislies  my 
dauditcr  to  wed  him.  But  this  would  not  suit  me, 
so  I  should  be  very  glad  could  she  soon  marry  tlie 
King  of  the  Romans  and  put  an  end  to  this  annoy- 
ance       T  doubt   whether   the  Princess  of 

Savoy  will  be  happy  here,  for  the  Due  de  Bour- 
gogne  is  horribly  reserved  and  ill-tempered;  and 
she  is  certain  to  fall  into  the  hands  of  bigotted  old 
women,  who  will  disapprove  of  any  pleasures  or 
happiness  that  she  may  be  given " 

••  PuUT  lioYAL,  Alls;-,  'iml,  IG'JG. 

*'  M.  Helmont's  opinion  cannot  make  any  im- 
pression upon  me,  for  I  cannot  figure  the  soul  to 
myself  or  understand  how  it  can  pass  into  another 
body.  If  I  reasoned  according  to  my  humble 
judgment,  I  should  be  more  inclined  to  think  that 
when  we  die  all  disappears,  that  nothing  remains 
of  what  we  were,  and  that  each  element  of  which 
we  were  composed  flies  off"  to  form  part  of  another 

whole It  seems  to  me  that  only  Divine 

grace  can  persuade  us  that  the  soul  is  immortal,  for 
the  idea  does  not  naturally  present  itself  to  our 
minds " 

To  THE  Raugravine  Louise. 

"  Saixt  Cloud,  Aug.  12tli,  1G90. 

*'  Would  that  we  all  could  meet  our  end  as  Caro- 
line has  done.  I  think  that  she  died  with  real 
courage.      Whoever  can  truly  believe  in  a  future 

♦  Due  du  Maine. 


MOTHER  OF  PHILIPPE  D^ORLEANS,        79 

life  is  certainly  hajDj^y,  for  it  is  not  in  this  world 
that  one  nmst  seek  consolation  or  joy  ;  neither  are 
those  called  awav  the  first  the  least  fortunate.  It 
seems  to  me  that  we,  the  children  of  His  Highness, 
the  late  Elector,  cannot  boast  of  having  been  happy 
in  this  world.  I  hope  to  God  that  we  shall  enjoy 
eternal  life !  .  .  . 

^'  P.S.  You  would  render  me  a  service  by  send- 
ing me  the  stockings  and  pins  that  our  late  Caroline 
ordered  for  me.  Write  and  tell  me  the  price.  I 
also  owed  her  for  a  pair  of  stockings  ;  she  never 
told  me  what  they  had  cost  her " 

To  the  Electress  Sophia. 

"Versailles,  Sept.  20tli,  101)6. 

^^  The  Prince  of  Wales  is  the  nicest  child  in  the 
world  ;  he  knows  French  now,  and  talks  willingly. 
He  is  neither  like  his  father  or  mother,  but  bears  a 
great  resemblance  to  all  the  portraits  of  the  late 
King  of  England,^'  his  uncle;  and  I  feel  sure  that 
if  the  English  could  see  this  child  they  could  not 
doubt  that  he  is  a  member  of  the  royal  family.  .  ." 

"  FONTAINEIJLEAU,   Oct.   aOtll,   1G90. 

"I  beg  of  you  to  thank  M.  Leibnitz  from  me. 
I  think  that  he  has  written  his  theory  very  well, 
and  I  admire  the  clearness  and  ease  with  which  he 
expounds  so  diificult  a  subject.  It  is  a  great  con- 
solation for  me  to  know  that  animals  do  not  entirely 
perish,  on  account  of  my  dear  little  dogs.  .  .  ." 

*  Charles  II. 


/ 


8o 


LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF  THE 


"  Versailles,  Nov.  8tli,  1G96. 
''  Before  answering  your  gracious  letter  of  the 
10-29tli  October,  I  must  talk  to  you  a  little  about 
our  future  Duchesse  cle  Bourgogne,  who  arrived  at 
Fontainebleau  last  ]\Ionday.  The  King,  Mon- 
seigneur,*  Monsieur,  and  my  son,  went  Sunday  to 
meet  her  at  Montargis.  I  waited  in  her  apartment 
at  Fontainebleau  till  she  arrived,  where  I  received 
lier  laughing — I  feared  to  die  of  amusement ;  tliere 
was  such  a  crowd,  all  pressing  one  another  so  that 
poor  Mme.  de  Nemours  and  the  Marechale  de  la 
Mothe  were  so  violently  j^ushed  that  they  came  on 
the  top  of  us,  walking  backwards  the  whole  length  of 
the  room,  and  finally  fell  against  Mme.  deMaintenon. 
If  I  had  not  seized  the  latter  by  the  arm  the  whole 
three  would  have  rolled  the  one  on  the  top  of  the 
other  like  a  pack  of  cards.  It  was  exceedingly 
funny.  As  for  the  Princess,  she  is  not  very  tall  for 
her  age,  but  she  has  a  pretty  figure  as  slender  as  a 
doll's,  beautiful  light  hair,  dark  eyes  and  eyebrows, 
long  beautiful  lashes,  very  smooth  skin,  but  not 
very  white,  her  little  nose  is  neither  pretty  nor  ugly, 
her  mouth  is  large  with  thick  li^DS,  in  short,  she  has 
an  Austrian  mouth  and  chin.  She  walks  grace- 
fully, looks  well,  and  has  a  gracious  manner — for  a 
child  of  her  age  she  is  very  serious  and  politic. 
She  pays  no  attention  to  her   grandfather,!   and 

*  The  Due  de  IJourgogiie. 

f  Monsieur,  whui.e  daughter,  by  Henrietta  of  Eughind,  n:arried 
to  bavoy. 


MOTHER  OF  PHILIPPE  D' ORLEANS.       8i 

Iiardly  looks  at  my  son  and  myself;  but  as  soon 
as  she  sees  Mme.  de  Maintenon  she  smiles  and  runs 
to  meet  her ;  equally  when  she  perceives  the  Prin- 
cesse  de  Conti.  By  this  you  can  see  how  politic 
she  is  already.  Those  who  speak  with  her  say  that 
she  is  very  intelligent.  She  takes  the  full  rank  of 
Duchesse  de  Bourgogne,  but  she  is  generally  styled 
'  the  Princess.'  She  dines  alone,  not  with  the 
King.  The  whole  world  is  returning  to  childhood 
here;  the  day  before  yesterday  the  Princesse  d'Har- 
court  and  Mme.  de  Pontchartrin  played  at  '  blind 
man's  buff.'  Yesterday  it  was  the  turn  of  Mon- 
sieur, the  Dauphin,  the  Prince  and  Princesse  de 
Conti  and  myself.  (What  do  you  think  of  the 
company?)  To  tell  the  truth  I  was  not  sorry  to 
move  about  a  little " 


"  At  Port  Royal,  Nov.  14th,  1696. 
^^  I  find  that  many  things  are  spoilt  in  this  life 
by  religion — specially  since  my  daughter  cannot 
wed  King  William.  I  cannot  blame  this  King 
for  not  wishing  to  re-marry,  for  matrimony  is  a 
great  plague,  and  one  cannot  be  always  sure  that 
it  will  turn  out  a  good  thing  each  time " 

"Paris,  Nov.  25th,  1696. 

^'  No  doubt  you  have  heard  by  now  how  our 
little  new  Princess  was  received,  and  that  she  has 
been  given  the  full  rank  of  a  Duchesse  de  Bour- 
gogne, although  she  does  not  yet.  bear  the  title. 
Since   she   is    to    have    precedence    over    me,    it 


82 


LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF  THE 


matters  little  whether  it  is  to  be  now  or  a  year 
later.      With  the  exception  of  having  precedence 
over  the  other  Princesses  I  never  had  any  joy  or 
honour  in  being  first.  ...     The  passion  that  the 
King  has  for  that  woman  *  is  incredible.      Every 
one  in  Paris  says  that  as  soon   as  peace   is   con- 
cluded the   marriage   will   be   declared,  and  that 
the  lady  will  assume  rank.     This  is  another  reason 
why  I  should  esteem  myself   fortunate  in  having 
no  longer  precedence ;  at  least,  I  shall  walk  behind 
some    one   who    is    worthy,    and   I    shall    not  be 
obliged  to    hand   the   chemise  and  gloves  to  this 
lady.     If  it  is  to  be  done,  I  wish  it  were  all  over, 

for  then  there  would  again  be  a  Court 

'^1  do  not  know  whether  the  Duchesse  de 
Bourgogne  will  be  more  fortunate  than  the  Dau- 
phiness,  the  Grand-Duchesse,  and  myself.  When 
we  first  arrived  we  also  were  thought  wonder- 
ful, one  after  the  other,  but  they  soon  got  tired 
of  us.  But  then,  we  had  not  the  advantage  of 
everyone  wishing  to  stand  well  at  Court  being 
obliged  to  behave  well  to  us,  which  is  the   case 

with  this  little  Princess 

^<  It  is  impossible  to  be  more  politic  than  she 
is— they  say  that  her  father  brought  her  up  to  be 
so.  She  is  not  at  all  stupid,  and  I  do  not  think 
her  as  ugly  as  the  others.  She  is  certainly  in- 
telligent, one  can  see  that  in  her  eyes.  .  . 

♦  Mme.  de  Maiiitenon. 


)> 


^ 


MOTHER  OF  PHILIPPE  D'ORLEANS.       83 


(( 


Versailles,  Dec.  16th,  1C9G. 


*'  The  fiancee  of  the  Due  de  Bourgogne  is  kept 
greatly  shut  up  ;  the  King  has  forbidden  us  to 
ever  mention  tlie  opera,  the  play,  or  gambling 
before  her ;  I  am   quite   sorry  for  the  poor  child. 


»9 


"Versailles,  Jan.  2nd,  1697. 

*'By  what  I  remember.  King  James  used  to 
pass  as  being  brave  and  firm,  but  never  for 
being  clever.  I  can  remember  Mme.  de  Fiennes 
saying  to  me,  '  The  King  of  England  is  very 
witty  and  agreeable,  but  feeble  in  character;  the 
Duke  of  York  is  courageous  and  fierce,  but  perish- 
ingly  dull,  and  uninteresting  in  conversation.'  " 

Ma  dame's  religious  theories  and  opinions  must 
have  greatly  shocked  her  contemporaries.  She 
went  through  every  phase  of  religious  thought. 
-Almost  entirely  unbelieving  at  one  time  of  her 
life,  she  returned  to  the  early  catechism  of  Heidel- 
burg  as  the  best  rule  to  follow  before  her  death. 
But  she  inherited  her  father's  breadth  of  view  as 
regarded  other  people's  opinions,  and  she  had  friends 
amongst  Jesuits,  Jansenists,  Huguenots,  and  nuns  ; 
whilst  she  was  always  ready  to  discuss  with 
interest  any  new  theory  proposed  to  her  by  her 
friends  or  enemies.  Through  her  letters  one  can 
follow  every  variation,  for  Madame  constantly 
alluded  to  religion,  and  some  of  the  bitterness  she 
felt  against  Mme.  de  Maintenon  may  be  attributed 
to  the  latter's  intense  though  narrow  piety. 

g2 


I 


84 


LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF  THE 

To  THE  Raugravixe  Louise. 

«  Versailles,  Jan.  22nd,  1C97 


^*  It  is  a  very  unfortunate  thing  that  the  clergy 
try  to  set  Christians  against  one  another.  If  they 
followed  my  advice  the  three  Christian  religions 
should  join  together  and  become  one,  and  not 
trouble  us  as  to  what  each  thought  individually,  and 
only  care  as  to  whether  all  lived  according  to  the 
law  of  the  Gospel— those  who  led  evil  lives  would 
then  alone  be  rebuked  by  the  preachers.  Chris- 
tians  ought  also  to  be  allowed  to  contract  marriage 
together  in  any  church  without  being  blamed  by 
their  fellows.  If  all  this  were  done  they  would  be 
more  united  than  they  are  now. 

^a    think    so    highly    of  King    William    that  I 
could  rather  have   him   for  a  son-in-law  than  the 
Emperor  of  Germany.     I  can  truly  say  that   my 
daughter  never  thinks  of  coquetry  or  gallantry,  so 
from  those  things  I  have  nothing  to  fear ;   she  is 
not  handsome,  but  full  of  good  feeling,  and  very 
amiable.     I  feel  sure  that  she  will  remain  an  old 
maid,  for  I  fancy  that  your   King   will   wed   the 
Princess  of  Denmark ;  the  Emperor,  a  Princess  of 
Savoy ;  and  the  Due  de  Lorraine,  the   Emperor's 
daughter.     In  that  case  there  will  be  no  one  left 
for  my  daughter '' 

"  Versailles,  Feb.  18th,  1697. 

"You  were  right  not  to  visit    the    Princess   of 
Denmark*  if  she  refused  to  bow  to  you.     She  is 

*  Afterwards  Quesn  Anne. 


I 


MOTHER  OF  PHILIPPE  D^ORLEANS,        85 

foolish  to  be  so  proud,  for  her  mother  came  of  a 
rank  far  below  yours. 

"It  will  produce  a  good  effect  abroad  to  hear 
that  you  refused  to  give  up  in  England  the 
honours  that  you  considered  as  due  to  you " 

*'  Paris,  March  14th,  1G97. 

'^I  feel  sure  that  my  daughter  is  going  to  remain 
an  old  maid — at  least  it  seems  so.    No  doubt  your 

King*  will  wed  the  Princess  of  Denmark The 

Plenipotentiaries  have  gone  to  Holland.  We  shall 
soon  know  whether  or  not  they  have  done  any- 
thing. I  do  not  think  that  a  man  could  now  be 
found  who  does  not  hold  King  William  in  esteem ; 
I,  for  my  part,  never  made  any  secret  of  my 
feeling  for  him " 

"  Versailles,  March  17th,  1697. 

^' As  far  as  I  can  understand,  the  great  English 
nobles  come  from  a  stock  as  mixed  as  do  our 
Dukes  here,  there  are  barely  two  or  three  who  can 

boast  of  four  quarterings 

^'  I  did  not  know  that  music  figured  in  English 
plays,  with  the  exception  of  the  orchestra  per- 
forming between  the  acts.  Going  to  the  theatre 
is  my  favourite  amusement.  His  Highness,  our 
late  father,  used  to  say  tliat  English  comedies  were 
better  than  any  others,  therefore  I  hope  that  you 
derive  amusement  from  them " 


j 


*  Kinc:  William, 


86 


LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF  THE 


II 


I 


'<■  Saint  Cloud,  May  15tli,  1697. 

'''  I  wish  that  you  coukl  give  mc  more  details  of 
the  ceremony  at  which  you  assisted  at  Windsor,  for 
such  topics,  indifferent  in  themselves,  are  a  great 
lielp   in   conversations.      I  often  find  that  I  have 

nothing  left  to  say 

''li  you  understood  the  state  of  things  here,  you 
would  not  wonder  at  my  lack  of  gaiety.  Any  one 
else  in  my  place,  who  was  not  of  a  fundamentally 
cheerful  nature,  would  have  died  of  grief  long  ago, 
but  I  only  wax  fat  on  my  troubles.  I  see  few 
people,  and  live  apart  'like  a  free  burg.'  I 
cannot  claim  four  friends  in  the  whole  of  France." 

Amonir  Madame's  ^4our  friends"  must  be  reck- 
oned,  Fraulein  von  Rathsamhausen,  whom  she 
brought  with  her  from  Germany.  This  worthy 
lady  lived  with  her  mistress  for  more  than  forty 
years,  notwithstanding  Monsieur's  constant  efforts 
to  make  her  return  to  her  own  country.  She 
always  remained  a  true  German  liausfrau^  and 
never  even  learnt  the  French  language.  Madame 
was  greatly  attached  to  this  worthy  lady,  and  often 
refers   to   her   in   her   letters    to   the  Raugravine 

Louise. 

Early  in  the  spring  of  1697,  Madame  had  a  bad 
accident  whilst  riding  at  a  wolf-hunt.  Her  horse 
stumbled  and  she  fell  heavily  on  to  the  ground, 
putting  out  her  elbow.  On  being  taken  to  the 
nearest  village,  the  Daupliin,  who  was  with  her, 
was  told  that  a  very  skilful  bonesetter,  famous  for 


MOTHER  OF  PHILIPPE  D^ORLEJNS.       87 

his  cures  all  round  Paris,  lived  there.  Madame 
declared  that  he  and  no  other  should  set  her  elbow. 
This  he  accordingly  did,  and  she  records  with  great 
satisfaction  that  her  enemies,  the  King's  physician 
and  Monsieur's  druggist,  were  disgusted  to  see  how 
well  the  poor  peasant  bonesetter  had  managed  to 
rid  her  of  her  ill. 

After  this  accident  Madame  gave  up  hunting, 
thou^^i  she  still  rode  whenever  she  had  a  chance 
of  doing  so. 

To  THE  Raugravine  Louise.* 

"  Saint  Cloud,  July  I9th,  1697. 

''  It  speaks  ill  for  a  country  where  those  wishing 
to  marry  first  inform  themselves  of  the  lady's 
wealth,  for  it  proves  that  virtue  is  held  of  small 
account.  I  fancy  that  England  is  not  the  only 
place  where  married  folks  disagree,  and  where 
there  are  bad  husbands.  If  one  does  not  care  to 
meet  with  such  cases,  one  must  quit  this  world. 
Those  wishing  to  enter  the  marriage  state  had 
better  not  come  to  me  for  advice,  for  I  disapprove 
of  it  altogether " 

To  the  Electress  Sophia. 

''  Saint  Cloud,  Aug.  18th,  1C97. 

''  Although  many  about  the  Court  declare  that 
King  William  thought  of  my  daughter,  I  cannot 

really  believe  it The  old  wretch  would 

prevent  such  a  thing  ever  coming  to  pass.     I  can- 
not believe  that  King  William  thinks  of  marrying 

*  Then  living  in  England  with  her  nieces,  the  ladies  Schomberg. 


I 


I 


I 


88 


LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF  THE 


again.  And  if  he  does  so,  the  English  Parliament 
would   not   allow  him  to  wed  a  Catholic,   and  a 

Frenchwoman I  always   said    to   myself 

that  there  would  be  no  difficulty  made  as  to  recog- 
nising him  King.  He  has  a  right  to  the  title,  and 
since  a  long  time  everyone  here  says  '  King  Wil- 
Ham.'  .  .  .  ." 

'*  Saint  Cloud,  Aug.  15th,  1G97. 

'*  Last  Monday  I  was  dining  with  my  aunt   at 
Maubuisson.   At  first  she  seemed  silent  and  absent- 
minded.      I  feared  that  she  was  not  well,  but  in 
the  afternoon  she  became  quite  gay.     We   began 
to  build  castles  in  the  air ;    I  only  wished  for  one 
thing,  namely,  that  my  daughter   should   become 
Queen  of  England,  and  that  King  William  should 
take  her  to  the    Hague ;    then,  that    you    should 
meet  me  there,  and  that  we   should    spend   some 
time  together,  you  and  I.      Alas !  I  know  that  it 
cannot  be,  yet  I  like  to  speak  as  if  it  could  come 
to  pass.     But  my  aunt,  the  Abbess,  and  I  talked 
together  in  a  low  voice ;  she  had  warned  me  that 
the  nuns  believed  that  I  had  come  to  Maubuisson 
to  be  consoled  because  my  daughter  was  going  to 
be  married  to    a  Huguenot.      They  would  there- 
fore have  been  terribly  scandalised  had  they  heard 
how  much  I  desired  the  thing " 

To  THE  Raugravine  Louise. 

"Saint  Cloud,  Sept.  4th,  1G97. 

*'It  is   indeed   true   that   to   live   single    is   to 
choose  the  better  part ;    the   best   of   husbands  is 


j 


MOTHER  OF  PHILIPPE  D^ORLEANS.       89 

good  for  nothing.  Amelia's*  reflections  made  me 
laugh  heartily — they  certainly  would  be  true  if 
our  marrying  only  depended  on  ourselves,  and  if  we 
had  our  entire  personal  freedom  ;  but  I  am  con- 
vinced that  all  is   settled   by  Fate,  and   that   we 

are  not  free  to  act  as  we  wish Love   in 

marriage  is  no  longer  the  fashion ;  married  folk  who 
love  one  another  are  thought  ridiculous " 

To  the  Eleotress  Sophia. 

'*  Saint  Cloud,  Sept.  15th,  1G97. 

''I  love  this  child  (the  Prince  of  Wales t)  with 
all  my  heart.  It  is  impossible  to  see  him  and 
not  love  him.  He  is  very  good,  and  will  in  time 
I  think  become  a  great  king,  for,  although  he  is 
only  nine  years  old,  I  feel  sure  that  he  would 
even  now  be  able  to  govern  better  than  his 
father " 

"Paris,  Nov.  3rd,  1697. 

^'  The  Prince  de  Conti  will  divert  the  Poles 
when  they  see  him  drunk,  for  he  is  very  funny 
when  in  that  state.  He  then  imagines  that  not 
he,  but  some  other,  is  drunk.  Last  year  at  one 
of  the  receptions  I  found  him  half-seas  over ;  he 
came  towards  me  and  said,  '  I  have  been  talking 
to  the  Nuncio ;  he  is  quite  drunk,  so  much  so  that 
I  fear  he  will  forget  all  the  fine  things  that  I 
said  to  him,*  and  he  laughed,  sang,  and  made 
compliments  in  the  same  breath.      He  made  me 


*  Another  of  Madame's  half-sisters. 


t  The  Pretender. 


/ 


QO 


LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF  THE 


laugh  heartily.  ^  But,  cousin,'  I  observed,  *  is  it 
not  ratlier  you  who  have  been  drinking,  for  you 
seem  very  gay  ?  '  He  answered  laughing,  '  Ah  ! 
you  also  share  the  opinion  of  Monseigneur,  M.  do 
Chartres,  and  the  Princesse  de  Conti,  who  all  will 
have  it  that  it  is  I  that  am  drunk,  not  the 
Nuncio.'  And  if  my  son  and  myself  had  not 
prevented  him  he  would  have  gone  and  asked 
the   Nuncio  where   the  latter  had  been  to  drink. 


)) 


•  •  • 


To  THE  Raugravine  Louise. 

*^  Paris,  Nov.  loth,  1697. 

'^No  doubt  you  are  aware  that  peace  has  been 
declared,  and  signed  with  the  Emperor.  .  .  . 

^'I  do  not  believe  that   there    will    be    war   in 
Poland  either,  for  I  hear  that  our  Prince  de  Conti's 
affairs  there  are  getting  on  very  indifferently,  and 
that  he  will  soon  return  here.      To  my  thinking 
this  would  be  better  for  him  than  to  become  King 
of  Poland,  for  that  country  is  a  dirty  and  savage 
place,  full  of  selfish  nobles.      I  see  that  you  care 
as  little  for  play  as  I  do.     Hombre  is  very  fashion- 
able here ;    it  and  lansquenet  are  the    only  games 
played  in  this  country.       Dancing   has  gone  out, 
but  it  may  come    in    again    soon,  for   the   future 
Duchesse  de  Jiourgogne  is  passionately  fond  of  it. 
I  am  in  bed ;  this  need  not  surprise  you  for  I  am 

never  well  in  Paris 

''  I  nmst  now  prepare  to  go  to  church  for  it  is 
Sunday;    after  mass  the  Dauphin  will  come   and 


I 


I 


MOTHER  OF  PHILIPPE  D^ORLEANS.        91 

dine  with  us  and  play  at  lansquenet.  We  shall 
spend  tlie  evening  at  the  opera,  viewing  a  new 
ballet,  named  VEurope  Galante*  in  which  we 
sliall  be  shown  the  manner  in  which  the  French, 
Spaniards,  Italians,  and  Turks  make  love  to  their 
lady-loves,  each  in  their  own  fashion " 

About  this  time  Madame  seems  to  have  given 
up  the  thought  of  William  III.  as  a  son-in-law, 
and  to  have  turned  her  attention  to  the  Duke  of 
Lorraine,  who  was  in  every  way  a  more  suitable 
parti  for  Monsieur's  daughter  than  the  King  of  Eng- 
land, a  widower  and  a  Protestant,  could  possibly  be. 
It  is  instructive  to  note  how  Madame's  feelings 
about  William  of  Orange  altered  when  she  gave 
up  the  thought  of  his  making  her  daughter  Queen 
of  England. 

The  King  and  Mme.  de  Maintenon  had  no  time 
to  waste  over  the  marriage  of  Mdlle.  de  Chartres, 
for,  apart  from  settling  the  King's  legitimatised 
children,  they  had  the  wedding  ceremonies  of  the 
Due  de  Bourgogne,  Fenelon's  intelligent  and 
kindly  pupil,  to  attend  to.  His  bride,  Marie 
Adelaide  de  Savoie,  was  far  from  being  a  favourite 
of  Madame,  for  she  had  been  brought  up,  since 
the  age  of  eleven,  by  Mme.  de  Maintenon,  and 
had  always  behaved  but  with  scant  courtesy  to 
her  step-grandmother. 

So  Madame  had  to  actually  bestir  herself  about 

*  By  La  Motte-Huuar.     Campni's  score. 


/ 


92 


LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF  THE 


her  daughter's  marriage,  and  what  she  thought  of 
capital  importance  —  the  character  of  her  future 
Imsband.  In  one  of  the  letters  written  about  this 
time  to  her  sister  she  says,  -^  Write  me,  I  pray, 
dear  Louise,  what  sort  of  fellow  is  the  Duke  of 
Lorraine,  and  inform  me  of  his  temper.  .  .  ." 

To  THE  Electrers  Sophia. 

"  Versailles,  Dec.  8th,  1G97. 

''Your  gracious  letter  consoled  me  for  all  the 
annoyances  I  had  to  endure  during  the  wedding- 
ceremonies.*  There  was  such  a  crowd  that  I  had 
to  wait  a  quarter  of  an  hour  in  front  of  each  door 
before  I  could  pass  through.  I  had  on  such  a 
heavy  gown  and  under-skirt  that  I  could  hardly 
stand  upright:  this  gown  was  composed  of  gold 
fringe  and  black  chenille  flowers,  my  ornaments 
were  pearls  and  diamonds.  Monsieur  wore  black 
velvet  embroidered  with  gold,  and  all  his  largest 
diamonds.  My  son  wore  a  coat  of  many  colours, 
embroidered  with  gold  and  covered  with  gems. 
My  daughter,  a  gown  and  skirt  of  gold-embroidered 
velvet,  the  bodice  being  covered  with  rubies  and 
diamonds.  The  King  had  on  a  coat  made  of  cloth 
of  gold,  with  silver  embroideries  on  the  side.  Mon- 
seigneur  also  wore  cloth  of  gold,  embroidered  with 
gold  thread  in  relief.  The  bridegroom  looked  fine 
in  a  black  and  gold  cloak,  a  white  stomacher  em- 
broidered with  gold  and  trimmed  with  diamond 
buttons.     The  cloak  was  lined  with  pink  silk,  em- 

*  Wedding  of  the  Due  de  Bourgogne  and  Princess  of  Savoy. 


\ 


MOTHER  OF  PHILIPPE  D' ORLEANS.       93 

broidered  with  gold  and  silver  thread.  The  bride 
wore  a  cloth  of  silver  mantle,  and  skirt  trimmed 
with  silver  ribbons,  rubies,  and  diamonds.  All  the 
diamonds  there  and  elsewhere  were  Crown  jewels. 

At  a  quarter  to  twelve  we  went  to  mass 

— only  a  low  mass  said  by  the  Cardinal  de  Coislin 
as  first  chaplain.  Before  mass  commenced  the  be- 
trothal took  place,  the  King,  Monseigneur,  Mon- 
sieur and  myself  stood  round  the  betrothed.  When 
came  the  moment  to  say  '  yes,'  the  lady  made  four 
curtsies,  the  Due  only  two,  because  he  had  only  to 
ask  for  the  consent  of  his  grandfather  and  father, 
whilst  the  bride  had  also  to  ask  that  of  Monsieur's 
and  mine,  as  being  her  grandparents.  When  mass 
began,  the  King  and  we  others  went  back  to  our 
places,  only  the  betrothed  remained  kneeling  before 

the  altar When  all  was  over  the  bride 

took  her  place  as  Duchesse  de  Bourgogne  behind 
the  King,  but  the  bridegroom  led  her  all  the  same. 
We  went  immediately  to  lunch.  The  table  was 
in  the  form  of  a  horseshoe.  Only  the  royal  family 
and  the  King's  illegitimate  children  were  present. 
I  did  not  spend  a  weary  time,  for  I  sat  next  to  my 
dear  Due  de  Berri,  who  made  me  laugh  by  saying : 
'  I  see  my  brother  winking  at  his  little  wife,  but 
if  I  cared  to  I  could  wink  at  her  too,  for  I  have 
learnt  to  wink  the  right  way,  fixedly  and  sideways,' 
and  then  he  mimicked  his  brother  so  funnily  that 
I  could  not  help  laughing.  After  this  repast  every- 
one went  to  the  Duchesse  de  Bourgogne's  apart- 


/ 


:sK 


94 


LIFE  4ND  LETTERS  OF  THE 


MOTHER  OF  PHILIPPE  D^ ORLEANS,       95 


I 


(' 


ment  and  stayed  a  quarter  of  an  hour  without 
sitting  down,  then  each  went  to  his  own  rooms. 
At  seven  o'clock  we  again  met  in  the  King's  apart- 
ment. There  was  such  a  crowd  that  the  King,  who 
had  been  with  Madame  de  Maintenon,  had  to  wait  a 
quarter  of  an  hour  at  the  door  before  he  could  pass 
through.  In  the  King's  drawing-room  we  waited 
for  the  Englisli  royal  family  for  three-quarters  of 
an  hour.  When  they  arrived,  the  King,  the  bride, 
and  I,  went  as  far  as  the  ante-chamber  to  meet 
them.  The  Queen  had  on  a  cloth-of-gold  gown, 
trimmed  with  black  flowers,  her  jewels  being  dia- 
monds ;  the  King  wore  a  hair-coloured  velvet  cloak 
with  gold  buttons.  Everyone  passed  into  the  grand 
apartment  where  play  went  on  for  three-quarters  of 
an  hour ;  from  there  we  went  into  the  gallery  to 
see  the  fireworks,  which  were  splendid.  Then 
Ave  went  to  dinner.  The  two  Kings  placed  the 
Queen  between  them,  everyone  else  taking  the 
same  place  as  at  lunch " 


CHAPTER  V. 


1698  TO  1700. 


Shortly  after,  Madame  had  the  satisfaction  of 
aimouncing  to  her  aunt  and  sister  the  engagement 
of  her  daughter  to  Leopold  Charles,  Duke  of  Lor- 
raine and  Bar. 

Madame's  two  children  were  strangely  unlike, 
though  both  were  destined  to  play  so  great  a  part 
in  the  history  of  the  Europe  of  that  date ;  for 
Charlotte  Elizabeth  became  the  mother  of  the 
husband  of  Maria  Theresa,*  and  after  the  Duke  of 
Lorraine's  death  was  appointed  Eegent  of  the 
Duchy  of  Lorraine  and  Bar,  her  strong  indivi- 
duality coming  out  in  several  of  her  grandchil- 
dren. It  is  strange  to  think  this  Madame  was  the 
great-grandmother  of  Marie  Antoinette— fated  to 
live  in  the  self-same  rooms  that  Monsieur's  second 
wife  had  occupied  at  Versailles  during  the  life  of 
Le  Grand  Monarque. 

The  Duchesse  de  Chartres  had  an  unusually  long 
engagement,  the  wedding  being  arranged  to  take 

*  Francis  I.  Emperor  of  Germany. 


/ 


96 


LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF  THE 


w 


])lacc  in  October,  1G98,  nearly  a  year  after  tlic  be- 
trothal had  been  formally  declared.  We  may  be  sure 
that  Madame  was  pleased  with  this  delay,  which 
enabled  her  to  instruct  her  daughter  in  the  mysteries 
of  German  housekeeping.  In  the  meanwhile  the 
question  of  the  dowry  was  of  considerable  impor- 
tance, for  the  Due  de  Lorraine  was  not  wealthy.  So 
it  was  settled  that  the  bride's  uncle  Louis  XIV. 
should  give  her  1)00,000  francs,  and  her  father  and 
mother  400,000  francs,  payable  immediately  after 
their  death,  the  bridegroom  sending  the  lady  a 
large  quantity  of  precious  stones.  Just  after  the 
betrothal,  Madame  wrote  to  her  sister,  ^^  What  makes 
me  hope  that  this  marriage  will  turn  out  well  and 
make  my  daughter's  happiness  is,  that  she  is  not 
afraid  of  the  poverty  of  her  future  husband.  She 
believes  that  she  will  be  happy  in  spite  of  it." 

"Paris,  Feb.  IGth,  1698. 

''  I  had  the  pleasure  last  evening  of  holding  a 
long  conversation  with  my  Lord  Portland.*  He 
told  me  that  he  had  often  had  the  honour  of 
seeing  you,  and  that  he  admired  exceedingly  the 
perfection  with  which  you  speak  English  and 
Dutch 

^'  Monsieur,  who,  as  you  are  aware,  dislikes  any- 
one to  take  notice  of  me,  does  not  approve  of 
my  Lord  Portland's  coming  to  see  me  so  often,  and 
as  he  cannot  forbid  him  to  he  tried  to  set  me  against 


*  English  Ambassador. 


MOTHER  OF  PHILIPPE  D^ORLEJNS.        97 

him.     '  This  my  lord,'  says  he,  '  only  comes  to  see 
you  that   he  may  get  information   out   of   you.' 
'  That  would  be  more  to  be  feared  with  you,'  I 
replied,  '  who  know  all  the  State  secrets,  but  I,  who 
know  nothing,  cannot  be  made  to  say  anything, 
and  I  much  enjoy  his  company,  for  he  talks  to  me 
of  those  I  love  and  honour;  this  cannot  injure  any- 
body, and  you   know,  Monsieur,  how   willingly  I 
listen  to  those  who  speak  to  me  of  my  aunt,  my 
uncle,  and  the  Duke  of  Zell.'      To  this  he  replied 
nought,   but   soon   after   he  observed,    '  This  will 
much  disi)lease  the  King  and  Queen  of  England  at 
Saint  Germains.'    '  I  cannot  help  that,'  I  answered. 
'  I  pity  them  and  would  willingly  do  anything  for 
them,  but  I  cannot  help  esteeming  King  William, 
for  he  deserves  it,  and  I  do  not  hide  this  from  them! 
I  cannot  refuse  to  see  the  ambassador  of  a  King  re- 
cognised as  such,  and  one  that  the  King  and  yourself 
received  with  every  courtesy,  and  who  comes  with 
many  kind  messages  from  the  King  his  master  to 
me,  asking  for  my  friendship.     All  this  makes  me 
treat  him  well,  and  reply  to  his  courtesies  suitably, 
and  the  King  and  Queen  at  Saint  Germains  are 
wrong  if  they  find  fault  with  it.'  " 


I 


"  Versailles,  March  18th,  1698. 

"  Last  Sunday  my  Lord  Portland  made  his  entry 

into  Paris.     His  equipaj?es  and  liveries  were  very 

magnificent.    He  had  six  coaches,  twelve  outriders, 

twelve  pages,  fifty  couriers,  and  a  great  following  of 

H 


i«B 


98 


LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF  THE 


English  my  lords.  Last  Tuesday  he  was  received  in 
audience  here,  and  as  they  turn  everything  into  verse 
they  have  composed  a  ditty  about  his  entry.  I  send 
you  the  song.  What  amuses  me  is  that  in  it  they 
sing  the  praises  of  the  Ambassador  sent  by  the  same 
King,  whom  they  burnt  and  dragged  through  the 
streets  in  (i^^y  some  years  ago " 

"Marly,  April  24th,  1698. 

*'  My  son  told  me  that  whilst  they  were  speaking 
of  Holland  and  England,  M.  de  Wassenacr  said, 
apropos  of  King  William,  '  He  is  King  of  England 
and  Stadholder  of  Holland.'  '  Say  rather,'  replied 
a  my  lord,  '  that  he  is  King  of  Holland  and  Stad- 
holder of  England.'  Wassenaer  rejoined,  '  If  you  go 
by  favour  it  is  quite  true  that  the  King  reigns  in 
all  Dutch  hearts,  and  that  is  what  you  intended  to 
say.'  '  Nay,'  answered  the  Englishman,  '  I  simply 
meant  that  he  is  absolute  lord  and  master  in  Hol- 
land, which  he  is  not  in  England,  for  there  he  has 
a  Parliament  who  know  how  to  clip  his  wings 
should  he  wish  to  go  too  far.'  .  .  . 


» 


To  THE  Raugravine  Louise. 

*'  Saint  Cloud,  May  lOlh,  1098. 

"  My  very  dear  Louise,— Coming  back  last  night 
at  eight  o'clock  from  Paris  I  was  given  your  letter 
of  the  23rd  April-3rd  May.  I  read  with  pleasure 
that  your  health  was  quite  re-established 

*^  I  am  not  at  all  surprised  to  hear  that  you  were 
too  ill  to  think  of  the  Lord  God  as  much  as  you 


> 


MOTHER  OF  PHILIPPE  D^ORLEJNS,      99 

would  have  liked  to.     It  is  of  no  conquesence,  for 
anything  3/ou  may  have  uttered  during  the  time 
that  you  were  delirious  was  independent  of  your 
will,  and  you  have  led  such  a  virtuous  life  that 
God,  who  is  very  just,  would  have  remembered  it, 
and  you  would  certainly  have  gone  to  Heaven  if 
you  had  died.     For,  as  says  the  Heidelburg  cate- 
chism, as  long  as  we  feel  sincere  repentance  and 
sorrow  for  our  sins,  and  truly  believe  that  Jesus 
suffered  for  us,   all  our  other  weaknesses  will  be 
annulled  by  the  passion  and  death  of  Christ.     So 
you  have  nothing  to  fear,  dear  Louise.     Still,  it  is 
better  to   reach  Heaven  later  than  sooner.      The 
world,  it  is  true,  is  not  worth  much,  but  to  die  is 
an  awful  thing,  and  unhappily  we  do  not  exactly 
know  what  will  happen  to  us  after  this  life " 


To  THE  Electress  Sophia. 

"  Saixt  Cloud,  May  18tb,  1698. 

"  I  am  glad  that  my  story  about  Ninon  *  amused 
you.  She  can  lead  the  life  she  likes,  no  one  will 
ever  say  anything  to  her,  for  she  is  one  of  the  Panto- 
crate's  t  best  friends ;  they  have  known  each  other 
for  years.     Since  MdUe.  de  I'Enclos  has  become  an 

old  woman  she  leads  a  very  good  life My 

son  is  one  of  her  friends  ;  she  is  very  fond  of  him. 
I  could  wish  that  he  went  to  see  her  oftener,  and 
left  aside  some  of  his  own  friends.  She  inspires 
him  with  more  noble  and  worthy  thouglits  than  the 


Mdlle.  de  I'Enclos. 


t  Mme.  de  Maintenon. 


h2 


!l 


100 


LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF  THE 


latter  do.  She  is  capable  of  this,  for  her  friends 
praise  her,  saying,  '  Tliere  is  not  an  honcstcr  man 
in  the  world  than  Mdlle.  de  TEnclos.'  She  is  said 
to  be  very  modest  in  her  manner  and  speech ;  in 
this  my  son  does  not  follow  her  example " 

To  THE  RaUG RAVINE  LoUISE. 

"  Saint  Cloud,  June  17tli,  1G98. 

*^I  do  not  need  any  consolation  to  be  given  me 
about  dying;  I  neither  fear  nor  desire  death.  One 
does  not  require  the  catechism  of  Heidelburg  to 
teach   one   to  detach  one's  self   from  this  world, 

especially  in  this  country But  to  long  for 

death  is  quite  against  human  nature. 

^'  In  the  midst  of  this  great  Court  I  live  retired 
as  in  a  desert ;  there  are  but  few  people  whom  I 
see  frequently ;  I  spend  long  days  shut  up  in  my 
apartment,  writing  and  reading.  If  anyone  comes 
to  pay  me  a  visit  I  only  receive  them  for  a 
moment ;  I  talk  of  the  weather  or  of  any  Court 
gossip,  and  then  retire  again.  Four  times  a  week 
come  my  letter  days :  Monday,  Savoy ;  Wednesday, 
Modena ;  Thursday  and  Sunday  I  write  long  letters 
to  my  aunt  in  Hanover ;  from  six  to  eight  I  drive 
with  Monsieur  and  our  ladies  of  honour;  three 
times  a  week  I  go  to  Paris,  and  every  day  I  write 
to  my  friends  there  ;  I  hunt  once  or  twice  a  week. 
This  is  how  my  life  is  spent " 

"Marly,  July  4tli,  1698. 

**  Those  who  do  not  know  the  state  of  things 
here  imagine  that  the  King  and  tlie  Court  are  as 


!     i 


-^>-* — ■»  ->■ 


MOTHER  OF  PHILIPPE  D'ORLEANS.     lot 

they  were  before,  but  everything  is  sadly  changed. 
If  someone  had  left  Court  at  the  time  of  the  Queen's 
death    and  came  back  here  now  he  would  think 
himself  in  another  world.     I  might  say  much  more 
about  this,  but  there  are  things  that  one  cannot  put 
on  paper,  for  all  letters  may  be  opened.     My  aunt 
often  says  that  '  everyone  is  a  devil  sent  into  the 
world  to  torment  another  devil,'  and  I  think  that 
it  is  true.     We  of  course  know  that  everything  has 
been  ordered  by  the  will  of  Grod,  and  as  He  has 
settled  for  all  eternity ;  but  the  All-Powerf ul  not 
having  consulted  us  on  what  He  meant  to  do,  we 
ignore  the  reasons  for  what  we  see  happen  around 
us.     I  have  already  told  you  my  opinion  as  to  the 
clergy   who  forbid  plays,  so  shall   say  no    more, 
excepting  that  if  they  saw  an  inch  beyond  their 
noses,  they  would  see  that  what  people  spend  in 
going  to  the  play  is  not  ill-employed,  for  firstly 
the   actors  are   poor   devils   who   thus  earn  their 
livelihood,    and   again   comedies   inspire   joy,  joy 
gives  health,  health  gives  strength,  and  strength 
enables  us  to  work.     The  theatre  ought  rather  to 
be  encouraged  than  blamed ;  you  are  quite  right, 
dear  Louise,  not  to  make  a  case  of  conscience  of 
this  matter " 

To  THE  Electress  SorHiA. 

"Saint  Cloud,  Sept.  18th,  1698. 

^^  The  Pantocrate  is  very  powerful,  but  I  hear 
that  she  is  not  at  all  gay,  and  often  weeps  bitterly ; 
she  also  speaks  frequently  of  death,  only,  I  believe, 


102 


LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF  THE 


to  see  what  answer  she  will  receive.  They* 
spoil  the  Duchesse  de  Bourgogne  terribly.  When 
driving  she  does  not  remain  quiet  one  moment, 
but  sits  on  the  knees  of  those  present,  and  leaps 
about  like  a  little  monkey.  Everyone  finds  this 
charming.  She  is  entirely  mistress  in  her  own 
apartment ;  everything  she  wishes  is  done.  Some- 
times she  takes  it  into  her  head  to  run  out  of 
doors  at  five  o'clock  in  the  morning.  They  allow 
her  to  do  everything,  and  admire  her  taste.  Any- 
one else  would  give  their  child  a  good  whipping  if 
she  behaved  so.  I  think  however  that  thev  will 
repent  in  time  of  having  allowed  this  child  to  do 
everything  that  came  into  her  head " 

''  Paris,  Oct.  15th,  1G98. 

^  *'  I  do  not  know  whether  my  daughter's  mar- 
riage will  turn  out  well  in  the  end,  but  it  has 
had  a  sad  beginning.  Whilst  they  were  being 
married,  everyone  was  weeping  in  the  chapel,  the 
King,  the  King  and  Queen  of  England,  all  the 
Princesses,  all  the  clergy,  all  the  courtiers,  even 
the  guards  and  soldiers,  all  the  ambassadors — in 
fact  everybody  was  shedding  tears ;  the  Dauphin 
alone  remained  calm,  he  assisted  at  the  ceremony 
as  though  it  had  been  a  play.  The  Duchesse  de 
Burgogne  has  at  last  proved  that  she  is  kind- 
hearted,  for  she  was  too  sad  to  eat,  and  did 
nothing  but  weep  bitterly  after  she  had  bidden 
adieu  to  her  aunt. 

*  The  King  and  Mme.  de  Maintenon. 


si 


\ 


MOTHER  OF  PHILIPPE  D' ORLEANS.       103 

''  Yesterday  I  saw  the  present  the  King  gave  my 
daucrhter ;  it  is  a  suite  of  bedroom  furniture  worth 
forty  thousand  crowns.  Nothing  finer  has  ever  been 
seen.  It  is  made  of  thick  Venetian  cloth  of  gold, 
lined  with  cloth  of  gold.  The  flowers  would  be 
better  for  a  touch  of  flame  colour.  The  suite  is 
composed  of  a  bed,  a  table-cover,  six  armchairs,  and 
twenty -four  chairs  ;  the  celebrated  Losn^  designed 
it.  I  hope  that  they  will  think  my  daughter  well 
provided  for  in  Lorraine  ;  she  has  twenty  thousand 
crowns'  worth  of  linen,  lace  and  point,  very  fine, 
and  in  great  quantities,  filling  four  immense  cases." 

"  FoNTAiNEBLEAU,  Oct.  22nd,  1698, 

"  A  quarter  past  two  in  the  morning. 

"  How  badly  they  are  bringing  up  the  Duchesse 
de  Bourgogne  !  The  child  inspires  me  with  pity. 
She  begins  singing  in  the  middle  of  dinner,  jumps 
up  and  down  on  her  chair,  pretends  to  bow  to  those 
present,  makes  the  most  frightful  faces,  and  eats 
with  her  fingers ;  in  fact  it  is  impossible  to  be  more 
badly  and  ill-brought  up  than  she  is,  yet  those 
standing  behind  her  call  out,  'What  grace!  Ah! 
how  pretty  she  is.'  She  treats  her  father-in-law* 
very  disrespectfully  ;  he  imagines  by  that  that  he 
is  in  favour,  and  seems  quite  pleased.  I  hear  t;hat 
she  treats  the  King  with  even  more  familiarity. 


jj 


»  • 


The  Danphln. 


104 


LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF  THE 


Madame  seems  to  have  felt  her  daughter's  mar- 
riage extremely;  writing  shortly  before  the  Duchesse 
de  Lorraine's  departure  she  says :  *'  We  had  never 
quitted  each  other — now  we  are  going  to  be  sepa- 
rated altogether.  I  cry  all  day  long,  but  I  am 
obliged  to  hide  my  grief  else  I  should  be  lauglied 
at,  for  here  it  is  not  fasliionable  to  be  attached  to 
one's  children." 

But  the  letters  she  constantly  wrote  to  the 
Duchesse  de  Lorraine  have  unfortunately  never 
been  published,  having  either  been  destroyed  by 
the  recipient  after  Madame's  death,  or  called  in  by 
the  Regent,  who  sent  to  all  his  mother's  correspond- 
ents begging  them  to  return  her  letters,  as  they 
contained  so  many  facts  injurious  to  the  dignity 
and  well-being  of  the  French  Court. 

"  FONTAINEBLEAU,  Nov.  5th,  1698. 

"  The  Due  de  Lorraine  seems  very  much  in  love 
with  my  daughter.  Would  that  this  state  of  things 
could  last ;  how  happy  they  both  would  be  !  But 
alas,  '  No  tree  is  eternal,'  as  they  say  in  Clelie, 
and  generally  speaking  there  are  always  wicked 
people  in  Courts  only  too  ready  to  make  the  master 
and  mistress  disagree.  So  I  cannot  believe  that 
my  daughter's  happiness  is  assured " 

"Marly,  Jan.  8th,  1699. 

"11  o'clock  in  the  morning. 

''  Mme.  de  Chartres  died  heroically,  witliout  fear, 
thinking  little  of  death,  ordering  everything  to  be 


W 


f       \ 


MOTHER  OF  PHILIPPE  D'ORLEANS,      105 

settled  as  though  she  was  about  to  start  on  a 
journey.  The  Due  de  Brissac,  who  during  his  life 
disbelieved  in  God,  and  led  a  depraved  and  evil 
existence,    had   on   the   contrary   a  great   fear   of 

death He  made  a  public  confession,  and 

began  to  preach  and  declare  his  great  repentance 
for  the  sins  of  his  past  life.  He  died  in  the  midst 
of  great  terrors.  Everyone  grieved  for  Mme.  de 
Chartres ;  no  one  for  the  Due  de  Brissac.  His 
own  parents  rejoiced  at  his  death.  .  . 


?j 


"  Versailles,  Jan.  15th,  1699. 
'^  The  Pantocrate  has  not  yet  returned  me  my 
visit.  Does  she  imagine  that  one  can  do  every 
possible  injury  to  me  without  my  taking  it  to  those 
I  love  the  most  in  the  world  ?  She  must  get  used 
to  this.  Let  her  do  me  as  much  good  as  she  has 
done  me  harm,  and  she  will  no  longer  find  any- 
tliing  in  my  letters  but  praise  and  gratitude.  But 
so  far  I  have  only  seen  dogs  lick  the  hand  that 
beat  them  ;  men  are  not  like  that." 

To  THE  Raugravine  Louise. 

"  Marly,  March  16th,  1699. 

^'  The  two  hundred  thousand  crowns  which  Mon- 
sieur received  from  the  Palatine  States  he  wasted 
without  even  giving  me  a  farthing  of  it,  and  if  any 
other  money  came  to  him  from  there,  he  would 
spend  it  in  the  same  fashion 

*'  Those  who  inarry  must  expect  to  have  many 


io6 


LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF  THE 


misfortunes ;  the  higher  the  rank  the  greater  the 
miseries,  for  one  has  less  consolation  than  other 
people.  I  much  fear  that  the  worthy  Queen  of 
the  Romans  will  soon  find  this  out.  Were  I  to 
get  in  exchange  her  youth,  rank,  and  fortune,  I 
would  not  change  places  with  her  if  the  condition 
was  made  that  I  had  to  spend  my  life  as  she  has 
hers,  in  perpetual  ceremonies,  for  I  should  have 
died  of  dulness  at  the  end  of  a  week.  .  .  .  ." 

"  Versailles,  April  3rd,  1699. 

"  The  play  amuses  me  more  now  than  hunting, 
but  I  hunt  for  my  health's  sake,  for  if  I  do  not 
take  violent  exercise  I  have  terrible  heartache.  It 
is  far  less  dangerous  to  hunt  wolves  than  stags, 
for  they  never  attack.  You  know  that  our  father 
could  not  bear  that  we  should  hunt  or  ride ;  it  is 
here  that  I  first  learnt.  I  fell  twenty-four  or 
twenty-five  times,  but  that  did  not  frighten  me. 

"  You  are  fortunate  in  being  still  able  to  laugh. 
It  is  a  long  time  since  I  have  done  so.  One  who 
no  longer  wishes  to  laugh  had  best  marry  in 
France ;  they  will  soon  find  that  it  is  no  laughing 
matter.'  Unfortunately  I  was  mai-ried  according 
to  Paris  custom.  Although  I  am  said  to  have  a 
considerate  fortune,  it  is  quite  possible  that  I 
shall  find  myself  reduced  to  live  entirely  on  the 
King's  bounty,  for  if  Monsieur  wastes  my  substance 
and  dies  before  I  do,  I  shall  receive  nothing  from 
anywhere  ;  and  should  my  son  die  without  an  heir. 


i 


MOTHER  OF  PHILIPPE  D^ORLEANS.     107 

his  fortune  will  return  to  the  Kins:  as  the  male  head 
of  the  family.  In  any  ease  tlie  fortune  *  will 
descend  to  my  son  ;  I  have  no  rij^lit  to  the  smallest 
part  of  it " 

"Port  Royal,  April  14th,  1699. 
^^  A  councillor  had  been  to  see  one  of  his  friends, 
and  as  he  lived  close  to  him  he  wislied  to  return 
home  on  foot.  He  meets  a  great  tall  fellow  dressed 
in  light  grey,  who  peers  at  him  and  says,  '  Ah  !  so 
you  are  M.  Tiquet ;  t  I  have  been  waiting  for  you 
for  some  time,'  and  then  shoots  him  with  a  pistol, 
but  the  ball  passed  through  his  hair  without  touch- 
ing him.  He,  thinking  that  it  would  be  wise  to 
seem  hurt,  falls  to  the  ground  crying,  ^  T  am  dead  ! ' 
The  other  replies,  ^  Thou  art  not  dead,  for  thou 
speakest,'  and  darts,  together  with  another,  dressed 
in  brown,  towards  him.  They  struck  the  poor  man 
twenty-six  times  with  a  sword,  four  times  in  his 
body,  the  rest  only  in  his  clothes.  Neighbours 
run  out,  and  they  bring  back  M.  Tiquet  in  to  his 
fri(3nd's  house.  They  hope  that  he  will  recover 
from  his  injuries.  When  asked,  '  Who  are  your 
enemies  ?  '  he  replies  that  he  has  none  excepting 
his  wife  and  house-porter.  The  day  before  yester- 
day the  latter  was  arrested.  He  must  have  made 
some  sort  of  confession,  for  yesterday  the  woman 
was  also  arrested " 

*  Monsieur's  fortune. 

t  This  murder  was  one  of  the  causes  celehres  of  the  seven- 
teenth century. 


^1 


io8 


LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF  THE 


"  Paris,  April  24th,  1699. 
'^  You  have  seen  by  my  letter  the  anguish  I  have 
suffered  about  my  aunt,  the  Electress  of  Bruns- 
wick's, illness.  Thank  God  she  is  well  again.  I 
hope  that  He  will  spare  her  yet  many  years.  I 
would  rather  die  myself  than  lose  my  beloved 
aunt ;  she  is  the  person  I  love  the  most  on  this 
earth  !...." 

"  Paris,  April  26th,  1699. 
^*  Many  thanks  for  the  engraving  of  the  Czar, 
dear  Louise.  I  shall  insert  it  into  my  book  of 
engravings.  I  think  tliat  the  Czar  has  a  good 
nature ;  he  is  only  cruel  because  it  is  the  custom  to 
be  so  in  his  country '' 

"  Port  Royal,  June  12th,  1699. 

*^  I  do  not  believe  that  the  King  of  England  is  in 
a  hurry  to  remarry.  That  Sovereign  is  certainly, 
on  account  of  his  great  worth,  one  of  the  greatest 
Kinofs  who  ever  wore  a  crown ;  but  between  our- 
selves,  I  assure  you,  that  were  I  a  maid  or  widow, 
and  he  did  me  the  honour  of  asking  for  my  baud, 
I  would  rather  spend  the  rest  of  my  life  in  a  lonely 
condition  than  become  the  greatest  Queen  in  the 
world,  for  I  have  got  to  detest  the  marriage 
stare.  •  •  • 

To  THE  Electress  Sophia. 

"  Saint  Cloud,  June  14th,  1699. 

'*  It  is  said  that  my  Lord  Portland  is  not  going 
to  leave  King  William's  service,  but  only  to  retire 


MOTHER  OF  PHILIPPE  D'ORLEANS.      109 

from  his  Chamberlalnship  and  his  other  offices  near 
the  King's  person  ;  he  will  keep  his  post  in  Hol- 
land all  the  same.  Had  he  resigned  everything, 
I  do  not  suppose  that  he  would  have  led  a  contented 
existence  notwithstanding  his  great  wealth,  for 
those  who  have  held  important  posts  find  time 
pass  very  wearily  when  they  have  retired  ;  but  to 
remain  great,  be  rich,  and  yet  out  of  the  claws 
of  the  English,  is  a  far  from  unhappy  fate.  It 
must  be  a  wicked  nation  that  can  assassinate  its 
own  Sovereigns,  and  I  much  fear  that  King 
William  will  come  to  a  bad  end  with  these 
people." 

To  the  Raugravine  Louise. 

*'  Saint  Cloud,  June  23rd,  1699. 
^'  Every  one  is  talking  here  of  the  woman  who 
had  her  husband,  the  councillor,  assassinated,  and 
of  the  courageous  fashion  in  w^hich  she  bore  her 
frightful  death,  for  the  executioner  struck  her  five 
or  six  times  before  her  head  became  separated 
from  her  body.  So  many  people  wished  to  assist  at 
the  sight,  that  windows  were  let  at  fifty  pieces  of 
gold.  She  was  called  Mme.  liquet,  and  had  had 
her  fortune  told  some  years  ago.  It  predicted  that 
she  would  live  to  an  extraordinary  old  age,  and 
would  lead  a  happy  life,  if  she  avoided  a  man 
bearing  her  own  name.  Her  maiden  name  was 
Cartier,  and  it  happened  that  the  executioner  who 
beheaded  her  had  the  same  name.  This  is  really  a 
curious  thing." 


no 


LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF  THE 


"  Saint  Cloud,  July  17th,  1699. 

^'This  country  is  worse  than  England,  inasmuch 
as  all  the  bad  people  also  mix  up  in  politics  and 
Court  intrigues.  .  .  .  Once  married,  in  whatever 
country  one  may  happen  to  be,  one  must  not  be 
jealous,  for  it  serves  no  purpose.  One  must  lead  a 
good  life  oneself,  and  wash  one's  hands  of  the 
rest ;  but  then  one  has  no  pleasures  in  life,  and  may 
spend  long  dull  hours.  ...  I  do  not  trouble  myself 
as  to  the  way  the  world  is  going.  I  am  bcf^-inninf^* 
to  despise  it,  and  care  little  for  its  society.  Nothing 
has  been  heard  of  lately  but  tragedies ;  five  women 
have  just  been  tried  and  condemned  for  murderiii'*' 
their  husbands  ;  others  have  committed  suicide. 

'*  Nothing  can  be  becoming  rarer  here  than 
Christian  faith  ;  they  are  not  ashamed  of  any  vice. 
If  the  King  punished  all  those  that  are  vicious  as 
they  deserve,  he  would  be  left  without  Princes, 
nobles,  or  courtiers,  and  every  great  house  in 
France  would  be  plunged  into  mourning." 

"  FONTAINEBLEAU,  Oct.  Ist,  1699. 

"  I  am  indeed  grieved  to  hear  of  Charles 
Maurice's  bad  conduct.  If  he  behaves  in  this 
manner  we  shall  not  remain  friends  long.  I  am 
very  angry  to  hear  that  he  is  dead  drunk  nearly 
all  day  long  ;  it  is  a  shameful  thing.  If  I  thought 
that  it  would  make  any  difference  I  would  write 
and  tell  him  what  I  thought  of  it.  Whence  comes 
this  habit  of  his  ?  Papa  was  never  drunk  in  his 
life.     I  am  bitterly  sorry  that  the  only  remaining 


i 


MOTHER  OF  PHILIPPE  D^ORLEANS,       in 

son  of  our  father  should  be  a  drunkard.  I  saw  in 
the  Dutch  Gazette  that  they  have  begun  rebuilding 
at  Heidelburg.     Is  this  indeed  a  fact  ? 

''  I  greatly  doubt  whether  I  shall  ever  see  my 
grandson  *  in  the  flesh,  but  my  daughter  is  going 
to  send  me  a  waxen  image  of  him.  .  .  ." 

To  THE  Electress  Sophia. 

"  Paris,  Nov.  1st,  1699, 

"11  o'clock  in  the  morning". 

"  In  truth  the  Queen  of  England  does  not  treat 
the  Maintenon  as  an  equal ;  she  herself  does  not 
wish  to  be  treated  as  Queen,  but  desires  the  same 
consideration  to  be  shown  her — ay,  even  more  than 
if  she  was  really  Queen ;  she  expects  to  be  con- 
sulted in  everything,  and  wishing  naught  to  be 
done  without  her  advice  or  command.  This  is  not 
at  all  my  idea  of  what  ought  to  be " 

"  Paris,  Dec.  27th,  1699. 
''  The  Sultan  of  Morocco  has  written  an  extra- 
ordinary letter  to  the  King,  proposing  to  form  an 
offensive  and  defensive  alliance  with  him.  He 
adds,  that  his  envoys  have  told  him  of  a  beautiful 
French  Princess,  whose  name  has  escaped  him,  but 
it  is  the  one  who  sat  on  the  left  side  of  the  Uuc 
de  Chartres  at  Monsieur's  ball  at  the  Palais  Royal. 
He  has  been  told  that  she  is  the  daughter  and 
widow  of  Kings,  and  that,  therefore,  he  hopes  our 

*  The  son  of  the  Duchess  of  Lorraine. 


112 


LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF  THE 


King  will  not  refuse  her  to  liim.  As  to  lier  reli- 
gion, the  King  need  have  no  fear;  he  will  leave 
her  every  sort  of  liberty,  and  provide  for  as  many 
monks  as  she  desires.  As  soon  as  he  has  received 
tlie  King's  reply,  he  will  embark  on  a  vessel  and 
come  himself  to  fetch  the  Princess,  for,  from  his 
envoy's  description,  he  has  fallen  madly  in  love 
with  her.  You  see  by  this  that  it  is  the  Princess 
de  Conti.  Her  life  has  been  a  very  romantic  one, 
and  to  be  quite  complete  it  only  needs  that  the 
Sultan  of  Morocco  should  run  away  with  her,  and 
that  love-lorn  French  chevaliers  should  briiiir  her 
back  again." 


I 


MOTHER  OF  PHILIPPE  D^ORLEANS.      113 


CHAPTER  VI. 


1700  TO  1702. 


To  THE  Raugravine  LouiSE. 


u 


"  Marly,  21st  Jan.,  1700. 
It  is  really  quite  true  that  the  Sultan  of 
Morocco  has  asked  the  Princesse  de  Conti  in  mar- 
riage, but  the  King  instantly  refused  to  hear  of 
such  a  thing.  The  Princess  was  exceedingly 
beautiful  before  she  had  the  small-pox,  but  this 
illness  greatly  changed  her ;  she  still  has  her 
perfect  figure,  and  dances  admirably.  I  never 
saw  a  portrait  of  her  which  resembled  her " 

"Versailles,  April  23rd,  1700. 

'^  The  old  lady,  who  is  in  great  favour,  detests 
me  as  though  I  was  the  devil,  and  opposes  me  in 
everything.  This  woman  is  also  a  pitiless  enemy 
of  the  Huguenots 

"  My  daughter  is  in  great  grief  from  the  loss  of 
her  little  boy ;  she  has  also  had  this  week  to  wit- 
ness a  sad  ceremony.  Her  father-in-law  left  orders 
to  his  son  in  his  will  to  take  up  his  body  as  soon 
as  he  had  regained  possession  of   the  Duchy   of 


ti4 


LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF  THE 


Lorraine,  and  bury  it  at  Nancy.  Thus  tlie  grand- 
father and  little  grandson  were  laid  to  rest  toge- 
ther. This  is  a  sad  thing;  my  poor  daughter  is 
much  to  be  pitied.  This  proves  that  no  one  is  com- 
pletely happy  in  this  life,  for  she  is,  thank  God,  in 
other  ways  the  happiest  woman  in  the  world." 

Madame  had  been  looking  forward  to  paying 
her  daughter  a  visit  in  Lorraine  during  the  course 
of  the  winter,  but  a  trifling  question  of  etiquette, 
raised  by  the  Due  de  Lorraine,  caused  her  to  be 
disappointed.  The  Due  declared  that  he  had  tlie 
right  to  sit  in  the  presence  of  his  mother-in-law 
in  an  armchair,  by  permission  of  the  Emperor  of 
Germany.  Louis  XIV.,  hearing  of  the  affair,  had 
the  Due  de  Lorraine  informed  that  the  Emperor  of 
Germany  could  do  as  he  liked  in  his  own  Court, 
but  that  at  Versailles  things  were  managed  differ- 
ently. For  instance,  in  Germany,  Cardinals  were 
allowed  to  seat  themselves  in  armchairs  in  the 
Eoyal  presence ;  in  France  they  were  not  even 
allowed  to  sit  down  before  the  King. 

Then  Monsieur  joined  in  the  discussion,  and 
recalled  that  the  old  Due  de  Lorraine,  whose 
daughter  had  wedded  Gaston  d'Orleans,  had  never 
sat  on  anything  higher  than  a  stool  before  his  own 
son-in-law.  Madame  all  this  time  was  waiting 
anxiously  to  know  whether  or  not  she  was  going 
to  be  allowed  to  visit  her  daughter.  At  last  the 
King  decided  that  the  Due  de  Lorraine  might  sit 
down  in  a  high-backed  chair  before  his  father  or 


« 


MOTHER  OF  PHILIPPE  D'ORLEANS.      115 

mother-in-law.  But  to  this  the  Due  would  not 
consent,  declaring  that,  having  been  raised  to  the 
rank  of  Elector  by  the  Emperor,  he  had  certainly 
a  right  to  the  armchair. 

Then  Monsieur  suggested  a  heroic  remedy. 
Why  should  any  of  them  ever  sit  down  at  all  ? 
Or  again.  Why  should  they  not  all  sit  on  stools,  as 
was  the  fashion  followed  at  the  English  Court  ? 

But  the  King  would  have  none  of  this  trifling 
with  proper  etiquette,  and  so  Madame  had  to  give 
up  her  cherished  plan. 

This  is  not  the  only  strange  case  of  etiquette 
which  arose  about  this  time.  In  1685,  when 
the  Princes  de  Conti  went  to  join  the  army  in 
Hungary,  they  were  not  received  by  the  Emperor 
because  they  had  insisted  on  their  right  to  sit  in 
his  presence  in  an  armchair,  and,  though  every 
other  honour  was  accorded  them,  thev  refused  to 
waive  the  point,  and  left  without  even  seeing  the 
personage  they  had  come  to  see. 

To  THE  Electress  Sophia. 

"Versailles,  May  9th,  1700. 

''My  son,  apart  from  his  marriage,  has  often 
])ained  me  by  his  disobedience.  When  I  begged 
him  not  to  do  a  thing  he  did  it  immediately,  many 
times  before  my  eyes.  When  I  tell  him  that  I 
cannot  bear  to  see  him  mix  with  certain  people,  he 
speaks  to  them  more  than  before ;  he  once  told  the 
King  that  I  was  the  cause  of  his  bad  conduct, 
because  I  hate  those  that  he  bears  in  affection.'' 

I  2 


,it..r:^-i  ssia^JiaAi 


ii6 


Zy/'^  ^iVZ)  LETTERS  OF  THE 


"  Saint  Cloud,  July  18tb,  1700. 

"  King  James  is  unfortunate  in  not  having  his 
true  sentiments  recognised.  We  are  on  good 
terms  with  the  royal  family,*  but  King  William's 
wishes  are  followed.  .  .  .  Our  King,  thank  God  ! 
is  wonderfully  well  just  now,  and  looks  better  in 
health  than  he  did  two  years  ago.  He  walks  a 
great  deal  on  foot,  at  Marly,  when  he  has  not 
the  gout,  and  this,  I  think,  keeps  him  in  good 
health.  ..." 

**  Saint  Cloud,  June  12th,  1700. 

'*You  make  me  laugh  by  saying  tliat  France, 
England,  and  Holland,  wish  to  govern  the  world 
together.  It  is  easy  to  believe  in  a  Trinity  so 
plainly  visible.  .  .  ." 

Now  that  her  daughter  was  married  Madame 
withdrew  more  and  more  from  the  Court  receptions 
and  gaieties,  but  she  always  managed  to  hear  of  all 
that  went  on,  through  her  son,  who  often  came  to 
see  her,  and  Monsieur,  who  was  a  great  gossip, 
although  he  rarely  seems  to  have  spent  an  hour 
with  his  wife,  unless  he  happened  to  be  in  tem- 
porary disgrace  with  the  King  or  Madame  de 
Maintenon.  He  spent  most  of  his  time  in  gambling, 
and  as  Madame  disliked  that  amusement,  and,  as 
he  believed,  brought  him  ill-luck,  she  never  saw 
him  after  dinner. 

Monsieur  was  singularly  fond  of  bells,  and  would 

•  James  II.,  lils  Queen  and  cliildrcu. 


MOTHER  OF  PHILIPPE  D'ORLEJNS.       117 


often  go  to  Paris  the  evening  before  some  great 
feast  to  hear  them  ring  out,  and  in  this  Madame 
sympathised,  although  she  so  disliked  going  to 
Paris  that  she  generally  made  Monsieur  go  alone 
to  hear  his  favourite  music. 

Madame  was  naturally  much  interested  in  the 
Spanish  Succession  difficulty  which  occurred  at  this 
time,  and  concerned  all  Europe,  and  specially^ 
Germany,  or  rather  Austria,  and  France,  for  in  the 
case  of  Charles  II.  of  Spain  dying  without  heirs, 
both  Louis  XIV.  and  the  Emperor  of  Germany 
claimed  the  right  to  the  Spanish  throne  for  one  of 
their  children. 

For  the  two  daughters  of  Philip  IV.,  Charles 
II. 's  predecessor,  had  married  respectively  to 
France  and  Austria,  the  eldest,  Maria  Theresa, 
becoming  the  wife  of  Louis  XIV.,  the  youngest, 
Marguerite,  Empress  of  Germany.  Maria  Theresa, 
however,  had  entirely  renounced  all  her  rights  to 
the  throne  of  Spain  when  she  married  the  King  of 
France. 

Louis  XIV.  had  always  been  determined  that 
sooner  or  later  France  should  make  good  her  claim ; 
partly  to  achieve  this,  Madame's  step-daughter, 
Marie  Louise,  had  been  sacrificed,  and  became 
virtually  a  French  spy  in  her  husband's  Court. 

After  her  death,  said  to  have  been  caused  by 
poison,  and  which  occurred  in  1689,  Charles  11. 
married  Maria  Anne  of  Neuburg,  a  sister  of  the 
Emperor  of  Germany.     She  was  naturally  entirely 


I  ! 


ii8 


LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF  THE 


in  the  German  and  Austrian  interest,  and  violent 
anti-French  intrigues  caused  the  feeling  between 
the  Spanish  and   French   Courts  to  become  very- 
strained.     But  Louis  XIV.  had  faithful  friends  and 
spies  in  Madrid.     These  continuallv  tried  to  work 
on  the  weak  intellect  of  the  King  and  make  him 
distrust  his  wife  and  her  German  advisers.      He 
was  actually  at  one  time  brought  to  believe  that 
they  meant  to  bewitch  him  and  turn  him  into  a 
candied  orange.     Again,  he  was  constantly  being 
w^arned  that  he  would  be  poisoned  as  had   been 
his  unfortunate  first  wife.     In  the  meantime,  and 
with  the  greatest  secrecy,  Louis  XIV.  proposed  to 
William  of  Orange  to  join  him  in  a  treaty  settling  a 
partition  of  the  Spanish  kingdom  after  Charles  II.'s 
death,  avoiding  thus  difficulties  and  probably  wars 
in  the  future.      William  III.,  perhaps  fearing  lest 
Louis  XIV.  should  make   a   better  bargain  with 
some   one   else,    agreed.      The   negotiations   were 
conducted    with    the    utmost    secrecy    by    Comte 
Tallard  and  Lord  Portland,  and  the  first  Treaty  of 
Partition  was  signed  at  the  Hague,  ]  1th  October, 
1698.    By  this  treaty  it  was  agreed  that  France 
should    take    Sicily   and    Naples   as    her    portion 
of    the    spoil,    the    kingdom    of   Spain    and    the 
Spanish  Netherlands  be   handed   to  the  Prince  of 
Bavaria,  and  Milan  to  the  Archduke  Charles,  second 
son  of  the  Emperor  of  Germany. 

Notwithstanding   the    secrecy   with    which    the 
whole  affair  had  been  carried  out,  the   Partition 


N 


MOTHER  OF  PHILIPPE  D' ORLEANS,      119 

Treaty  was  soon  talked  of  all  over  Europe  as  a 
fait  accompli;  but  Charles  II.,  acting  by  the  advice 
of  Cardinal  Portocanero,  made  a  will  declaring  the 
Prince  of  Bavaria  his  rightful  heir,  hoping  thus 
to  put  an  end  to  his  enemies'  plots,  for  all  acknow- 
ledged that  the  youthful  Prince  of  Bavaria  had  a 
certain  right  to  Spain  through  his  grandmother, 
the  Empress  Marguerite,  youngest  daughter  of 
Philip  IV.  This  will  was  executed  in  December, 
1698,  and  the  Prince  of  Bavaria  died  suddenly  on 
the  6tli  of  February,  1699,  it  being  openly  stated 
in  France  that  he  had  been  poisoned  by  order  of 
the  Emperor  of  Germany. 

Louis  XIV.  now  proposed  another  and  a  slightly 
different  treaty  to  William  III.  This  was  signed 
in  March,  1700,  and  assigned  Spain,  the  Indies, 
and  the  Spanish  Netherlands,  to  the  Archduke 
Charles,  w^iilst  France  was  to  receive  Louvaine  in 
addition  to  Sicily  and  Naples,  persuading  the  Duke 
(Madame's  son-in-law)  to  accept  Milan  as  an  ex- 
change. 

Meanwhile,  the  German  party  were  triumphing 
in  secret,  believing  that  Anne  of  Neuburg,  who 
was  known  to  have  great  influence  over  her  weak 
husband,  would  persuade  him  to  make  a  final  will 
in  favour  of  the  Archduke  Charles,  her  nephew. 
But  Louis  XIV.,  aided  by  Madame  de  Maintenon's 
counsels  and  secret  correspondence,  was  working 
steadily  for  the  end  which  was  actullay  accom- 
plished.     About    three   weeks    before    his   death 


120 


LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF  THE 


I 


I 


(November  1st,  1700)  Charles  II.  of  Spain  signed 
a  will  instituting  Philippe,  Due  d'Anjou,  Louis 
XIV.'s  second  grandson,  his  heir. 

It  was  thought  at  the  time  that  Louis  XIV.  had 
always  had  this  end  in  view,  and  that  his  offers 
and  treaties  with  William  III.  were  only  entered 
into  to  conceal  his  real  design  for  the  Due  d'Anjou. 
But  since  the  publication  of  certain  State  papers 
and  the  De  Forey*  Memoirs,  it  has  been  recognised 
that  when  the  offer  was  brought  from  Spain  ho 
really  hesitated  as  to  whether  it  would  not  be  wiser 
to  annex  Sicily  and  Naples,  extending  the  French 
frontier  on  the  Spanish  border,  than  to  entrust  so 
great  an  inheritance  to  the  Due  d'Anjou,  then  little 
more  than  a  child.     However,   he  finally  decided 
in    favour  of   his   grandson,    acting  on   Mme.    de 
Main  tenon's  advice,  and  throwing  over  William  III., 
to  the  Court  of  St.   Germain's  great  satisfaction. 
And  the  Due  d'Anjou  was  proclaimed  Philip  V.  of 
Spain. 

The  news  of  Charles  II.'s  death  did  not  arrive, 
till  eight  days  after  it  had  actually  taken  place,  at 
the  French  Court.  For  he  died  on  the  1st  of 
November,  and  on  the  10th  Madame  wrote  as 
follows  to  the  Electress  Sophia  :— 

" FONTAINEBLEAU. 

''To-day  I  have  a  great  piece  of  news  to 
announce  to  you.      The  King  of   Spain  is  dead. 

♦  Nephew  of  Colbert. 


fi 


■' 


MOTHER  OF  PHILIPPE  D'ORLEANS.       121 

The  messengers  arrived  yesterday  morning.  They 
say  that  the  event  had  been  expected  for  some 
time,  and  that  his  Queen  is  ill  from  grief.  Our 
King  has  been  sent  a  copy  of  the  will.  The  Due 
d'Anjou  is  named  as  being  the  heir.  One  of  the 
Spanish  grandees  started  immediately  with  the 
will  to  come  and  ask  the  Due  to  accept  the  Crown 
of  Spain.  In  case  our  King  refuses  for  the  Due, 
the  grandee  has  received  orders  to  go  on  to  Vienna 
and  offer  the  Crown  to  the  Emperor.  I  fancy  that 
the  treaty  which  was  made  with  England  and 
Holland  is  causing  us  great  embarrassment  here. 
I  hear  that  the  King  brought  the  Pantocrate  into 
the  Council  yesterday,  much  to  the  Ministers' 
astonishment " 

"  FONTAINEBLEAU,  NoV.  loth,  1700. 

^'Everyone  yesterday  was  whispering  to  one 
another,  '•  Don't  repeat  it,  but  the  King  has 
accepted  the  crown  of  Spain  for  the  Due  d'Anjou ! ' 

*^  I  kept  silence  ;  but  when  hunting  I  heard  the 
Due  d'Anjou  behind  me.  I  stopped  and  said, 
'  Pass,  great  King !  Let  your  Majesty  pass.'  I 
should  have  liked  you  to  have  seen  how  astonished 
the  good  child  looked  at  my  knowing  the  news  .  .  . 

^^  They  say  that  the  King  had  him  told  yesterday 
privately  that  he  was  to  be  King,  but  that  he  was 
to  say  nothing  about  it.  .  .  .  He  is  not  so  quick 
and  intelligent  as  his  youngest  brother,  but  he  has 
other  excellent  qualities ;  he  has  a  warm  heart,  is 
generous  (a  rare  quality  in  this  family),  and  truth- 


II  lit 


I 


II 


{     ) 


h  I 


122 


LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF  THE 


ful— nothing  can  persuade  him  to  tell  a  lie.  He 
will  also  be  a  man  of  his  word ;  he  is  merciful  and 
courageous,  and  looks  very  Austrian.  He  always 
keeps  his  mouth  open.  I  have  told  him  of  it  a 
hundred  times  ;  at  the  time  he  is  told  of  it  he  shuts 
it,  being  very  obedient,  but  when  he  forgets  again, 
he  re-opens  it " 

"  Paris,  Nov.  19th,  1700. 

"  Tuesday  morning  the  King  sent  for  the  good 
Due  d'Anjou  into  his  study  and  said  to  him,  '  You 
are  King  of  Spain.'  Immediately  the  Spanish 
Ambassador  and  all  the  Spaniards  here  came  in  and 
threw  themselves  at  their  new  Sovereign's  feet  and 
kissed  his  hand,  one  after  the  other,  placing  them- 
selves behind  him.  After  this  the  King  led  the 
young  King  of  Spain  to  where  all  the  Court  was 
assembled  and  said,  ^  Messieurs,  salute  the  King  of 
Spain ! 


» 


•  •  •  • 


In  the  following  letter  to  her  sister  Madame 
gives  a  curious  account  of  how  one  week  of  her 
existence  was  passed  in  the  winter  of  1700  : — 

"  Versailles,  March  8th. 

^^  On  Sunday  we  had  a  long  sermon,  and  I  wrote 
to  my  aunt,  the  Electress  of  Brunswick ;  Monday 
I  went  wolf-hunting  with  Monseigneur,  but  we  did 
not  find  ;  Tuesday  we  attended  a  stag-hunt  in  the 
forest  of  St.  Germains,  and  in  the  evening  went  to 
the  play  ;    Wednesday  I  wrote   to  Louvaine  and 


MOTHER  OF  PHILIPPE  D^ORLEANS.      123 

Modena,  and  attended  the  sermon ;  Thursday  I 
again  went  wolf-hunting,  and  after  I  came  home 
finished  a  long  letter  to  my  aunt ;  Friday  there 
was  another  sermon,  and  I  had  a  very  busy  day, 
for  my  first  gentleman  is  just  dead,  and  he  who 
takes  his  place  will  have  to  pay  the  widow  42,000 
francs.  This  occupied  me  the  whole  day,  and  I 
also  received  a  great  number  of  letters.  Saturday 
we  again  went  wolf-hunting  ;  on  my  return  I  wrote 
to  my  daughter.  Sunday  I  wrote  to  Hanover,  and 
attended  the  sermon,  which  was  remarkably  long. 
I  also  wrote  to  Paris.    Monday  1  write  to  you.  .  .  ." 

By  this  it  is  easy  to  see  how  great  a  place 
hunting  and  letter-writing  occupied  in  Madame's 
life.  Although  well  aware  that  her  correspondence 
was  tampered  with,  she  wrote  with  the  greatest 
freedom.  '^  Every  letter  which  arrives  in  or  goes 
out  of  France  is  opened  and  read.  But  this  is  a 
matter  of  indifference  to  me ;  I  go  on  writing  all 
that  comes  into  my  head  all  the  same,"  she  wrote 
once  to  her  sister  when  some  letter  had  been 
evidently  read  before  reaching  the  latter  in 
Germany. 

To  THE  Raugrave  Charles  Maurice. 

"  Versailles,  April  17th,  1701. 

"  I  have  known  since  a  long  time  that  my  aunt 
will  succeed  to  the  English  crown,  and  I  wrote  and 
told  her  so.  I  am  very  glad  of  it.  King  William 
is  a  valetudinarian,    and    Princess  Anne   is   not 


124 


LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF  THE 


III 


I 


strong.  She  is  said  to  drink  too  many  hot  wines. 
So  I  hope  that  our  dear  Electress  will  not  have  to 
wait  too  long  before  ascending  her  grandfather's 
throne." 

To  THE  Electress  Sophia. 

*'  Versailles,  April  19tli,  1701. 

*' Since  his  accident  (an  attack  of  apoplexy) 
Monseigneur  is  afraid  of  dying.  He  has  become 
quite  serious,  and  has  sent  away  his  actress.  He 
makes  her  an  allowance  of  a  thousand  pistoles,  and 
she  will  leave  the  theatre  at  the  time  of  the  Jubilee. 
I  am  sorry  for  this,  as  she  is  an  excellent  actress, 

"I  hear  that  the  King  of  Spain  has  taken 
Telemaque  as  model.  I  daresay  that  he  will  find  a 
Minerva  in  time  who  will  govern  him  and  Spain 
entirely.  The  Due  de  Berri  is  as  merry  as 
ever,  and  troubles  himself  about  nothing.  The 
Duchesse  de  Burgogne  is  very  intelligent;  but 
she  is  what  any  other  young  girl  would  be  who 
had  been  allowed  entire  liberty  of  action— vain  and 
frivolous.  .  .  P 

To  the  Raugravine  Louise. 

''Port  Royal,  May  15th,  1701. 

^*  All  my  life  I  have  regretted  being  a  woman, 
and,  to  tell  the  truth,  it  would  have  suited  me 
better  to  have  become  Elector  than  Madame.  I 
should  not  have  taxed  the  poor  people  as  does  the 
present  Elector,*  and  I  should  have  allowed  free- 
dom of  worship  to  all  Faiths.     I  should  even  prefer 

*  Of  the  Palatinate. 


MOTHER  OF  PHILIPPE  D^ORLEJNS,       125 

being  Elector  to  being  King  of  England,  for 
neither  the  temper  nor  the  Parliament  of  those 
English  would  suit  me.  I  do  not  envy  my  aunt 
her  birthright,  though  no  doubt  she  will  manage 
them  better  than  I  should  have  done " 

Madame  here  alludes  to  the  Electress  Sophia's 
claim  to  the  throne  of  England,  which  she  herself 
had  forfeited  by  her  marriage  to  Monsieur.  Had 
her  brother  lived  he  would  have  been  King  of 
England  and  Elector  Palatine,  but  owing  to  his 
death  and  Madame's  marriage  to  a  French  Prinne, 
the  claim  passed  on  to  the  Electress  Sophia  and  her 
son,  who  afterwards  became  George  I. 

We  now  come  to  the  great  event  in  Madame's 
life -in  more  senses  than  one— Monsieur's  death, 
which  occurred  on  the  6th  of  June,  1701,  probably 
from  what  would  now  be  called  a  fit  of  apoplexy. 

It  has  been  reported  that  on  learning  the  news 
Madame's  only  comment  was,  ''Fas  de  convent, 
pas  de  couvent !  " 

Be  that  as  it  may,  Madame  was  allowed  to  remain 
at  Court,  and  was  not  forced  to  retire  to  her  dower- 
house  of  Montargis,  or  into  a  convent,  as  was  the 
custom  with  other  royal  widows.  We  have  seen  a 
curious  manuscript  book*  presented  to  her  by  a 
convent  shortly  after  Monsieur's  death,  and  con- 
taining the  lives  of  all  the  saints  and  widows 
supposed  to  1)0  related  to  "Madame,  Princesse 
Palatine,  Duchesse  de  Baviere  et  d'Orl^ans." 

*  Now  at  the  Bibliotheque  Rationale. 


■^S^^S$^m^i^'- 


126 


LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF  THE 


This  was  evidently  meant  as  a  gentle  hint  as  to 
Madame's  widowed  vocation.  Among  her  ^^rela- 
tives "  figure  Saint  Monica,  mother  of  Saint 
Augustine !  but  Madame  did  not  follow  the  good 
nun's  advice. 

To  THE  Electress  Sophia. 

"Versailles,  June  12th,  1701. 
*'  Monsieur  was  still  hale  and  hearty  last  Wed- 
nesday morning.      He  went  to  Marly  and  dined 
with   the    King.      After   dinner    he   went   to   St. 
Germains,  coming  back  here  at  six  o'clock.      He 
was  in  a  very  good  temper,  and  told  us  about  the 
company  he  had  met  at  the  Queen  of  England's. 
Towards  nine  o'clock  I  was  told  that  supper  was 
ready,  but  I  could  eat  nothing,  feeling  feverish. 
Monsieur  said   to   me,    *  I    am    going   to   supper ; 
I  shall  not  do  like  you,  for  I  am   very  hungry,' 
and  then  he  went  to  table.      Half  an  hour  after 
I  heard  a  great  noise.     Mme.  de  Ventadour  entered 
my  apartment,   as  pale  as  death.     '  Monsieur  feels 
ill,'  says  she.      I  immediately  ran  into  his  room  ; 
he  recognised   me,   but   could   not  speak   plainly 
enough  to  be  understood.     I  could  only  make  out 
these  words,  '  You  are  ill ;  go   away.'     He  was 
bled  three  times,  given  eleven  ounces  of  emetics, 
SchafEhouse  water,  and  two  bottles  of  English  drops. 
But  nothing  was  of  any  good.     Towards  six  o'clock 
in  the  morning  they  saw  that  the  end  was  approach- 
ing, and  forced  me  to  leave  the  room.     I  was  in  a 


MOTHER  OF  PHILIPPE  D^ORLEJNS,      127 

fainting   condition.     They  put  me   to   bed,  but  I 
could  not  stay  still,  and  got  up. 

'^  The  King  came  to  see  me;  he  was  very  touched, 
and  did  his  best  to  console  me,  and  was  very 
gracious;  Mme.  de  Maintenon  was  also  touched, 
and  condoled  with  me.  The  King  left.  At  twelve 
o'clock  Monsieur  died.  I  immediately  got  into  a 
coach  and  came  here.  The  King  sent  to  know 
how  I  was— fright  had  driven  away  my  feverish- 
ness.  Mme.  de  Maintenon  sent  my  son  to  tell  me 
that  now  was  the  best  time  for  a  reconciliation  with 
the  King.  Whereupon  I  reflected  deeply.  I  remem- 
bered how  many  times  I  had  been  advised  to  make 
friends  with  the  lady  herself.  So  I  asked  the  Duke 
de  Noailles  to  tell  her  from  me  that  I  was  so 
touched  by  the  manner  in  which  she  had  expressed 
sympathy  for  me  that  I  begged  her  to  come  and 
see  me.  This  she  did  towards  six  o'clock.  I  imme- 
diately said  how  pleased  I  was  to  see  her,  and 
asked  her  to  be  my  friend.  I  owned  that  I  had 
been  angry  with  her  because  I  iiad  tliought  that 
she  injured  me  in  the  King's  estimation,  but  that 
I  would  willingly  forget  everything  if  she  would  be 
my  friend  in  future.  Thereupon  she  made  me 
many  charming  and  eloquent  speeches,  and  pro- 
mised to  be  my  friend,  and  we  embraced  one 
another. 

"  '  But  it  is  not  enough,'  I  continued,  ^  to  tell 
me  that  the  King  is  displeased  with  me— you  must 
also  tell  me  the  way  in  which  I  can  re-enter  into 


^B» 


128 


LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF  THE 


MOTHER  OF  PHILIPPE  D^ ORLEANS.       129 


1| 


II 


his  favour.'  She  advised  me  to  speak  openly  to 
him.  I  followed  this  counsel.  The  King  embraced 
me,  begged  me  to  forget  the  past,  and  promised 
me  his  affection  in  the  future.  He  also  laughed 
when  I  said  to  him  in  the  most  natural  fashion, 
*  If  I  did  not  love  you  I  should  not  so  have  hated 
Mme.  de  Maintenon  when  I  thought  that  she  injured 
me  with  you.' 

"  So  all  ended  happily  ,  .  .  . 

*'  1  shall  spend  another  sad  day,  for  at  three 
o'clock  the  King  will  go  back  to  Versailles  to  open 
Monsieur's  will " 

The  following  passages  in  a  letter  written  to 
Madame  de  Maintenon  immediately  after  Mon- 
sieur's death,  and  when  Madame  probably  felt  a 
real  fear  of  being  exiled  to  Montargis,  throw  a 
strange  light  on  her  character  : — 

"  This  Wednesday,  July  1st, 

"At  eleren  o'clock  in  the  morning. 

"  Had  I  not  been  employed,  madame,  in  the 
sad  task  of  looking  over  Monsieur's  papers  and 
boxes,  which  made  me  quite  faint,  so  violent  were 
the  perfumes  contained  therein,  you  should  have 
had  news  of  mo  before ;  but  I  cannot  express  to 
you  how  touched  I  was  by  the  King's  kindness  to 
my  son  yesterday ;  as  I  know  that  this  is  owing 
to  your  advice,  madame,  I  beg  to  assure  you  of  my 
thanks  and  friendship,  and  I  pray  of  you  to  con- 
tinue your  good  counsel.     Rest    assured  that  my 


i 


'"^ 


\  I 


gratitude   towards   you   will   only    end    with    my 
life.  . 


j> 


Again, 

"  This  Saturday  morning,  half-past  eleven. 

"  As  I  have  only  had  the  honour  of  seeing  the 
King  in  public  I  was  not  able  to  inform  him  that  I 
had  received  another  letter  from  the  Queen  of 
Spain,  and,  though  she  begs  me  to  keep  it  secret,  I 
do  not  wish  to  hide  anything  from  the  King. 
Therefore  I  thought  it  well,  Madame,  to  send  you 
the  letter,  and  the  answer  I  wrote  to  it.  Should  he 
approve  of  what  I  have  written  I  should  be  glad  to 
receive  it  back  to-night,  for  the  man  who  brought 
the  letter  from  the  Queen  is  waiting  for  the  answer. 
Be  kind  enough  to  tell  me  what  are  the  King's 
wishes,  and  remain  assured,  Madame,  that  I  shall 
always  desire  to  hear  them  expressed  through  you, 
for  whom  I  entertain  so  great  a  friendship,  founded 
on  esteem." 

Madame  must  have  written  these  letters  to  her 
enemy  in  hopes  of  conciliating  the  King,  for 
shortly  before  Monsieur's  death  one  of  her  letters 
to  the  Electress  Sophia  had  been  intercepted  and 
brought  to  the  King.  Sending  for  her  he  sternly 
upbraided  her  with  the  various  epithets  with 
which  she  had  designated  Madame  de  Maintenon, 
and  after  a  painful  scene  she  promised  never  to 
repeat  the  offence.  Again,  her  son  often  implored 
her  to  keep  on  good  terms  with  '^  the  King's  old 


130 


LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF  THE 


ii 


!| 


woman,"  warning  her  that  she  was  in  danger  of 
banishment. 

However,  in  this  matter  Madame  de  Maintenon 
proved  a  generous  enemy.  On  the  29th  of  July, 
Madame  says  mournfully :  ''I  really  wish  that  I 
could  find  something  diverting  to  do;  but  just 
now  I  am  allowed  to  do  nothing,  excepting  to  take 
walks  by  myself.  The  King's  kindness  is  my 
great  consolation.  He  came  to  see  me,  and  took  me 
out  walking  with  him.  Saturday  was  the  day  of 
Monsieur's  funeral.  I  cried  all  day,  although  I 
did  not  actually  assist  at  the  ceremony.  Madame 
de  Maintenon  is  still  kind  to  me ;  if  she  continues 
so  I  shall  certainly  remain  her  friend." 

Again,  writing  in  August  to  the  Raugravine 
Louise,  ^^  The  King  is  very  kind  to  me,  and  has 
raised  my  son's  rank.  This  pleases  me  much,  for 
he  is  a  good  fellow,  and  we  get  on  very  well 
together." 

"Versailles,  8th  Sept.,  1701. 
^^  I  found  King  James  in  a  pitiful  state.  He  can 
still  speak  and  knows  everybody,  but  he  looks  very 
ill  and  had  a  long  beard.  Last  Sunday,  after 
having  received  the  last  Sacrament,  he  sent  for  his 
children  and  servants,  gave  them  all  his  blessing, 
and  made  a  long  discourse  to  the  Prince  of 
Wales " 

On  James  IL's  death,  which  occurred  in  a 
country-house  near  Saint  Germains,  where  he  liad 
been  spending  the  summer,  Louis  XIV.  committed 


\ 


>\ 


I 


i 


MOTHER  OF  PHILIPPE  D^ORLEANS,      131 

the  mistake  of  recognising  his  son,  the  Pretender, 
as  King  of  England.  By  doing  this  he  broke  the 
Treaty  of  the  Peace  of  Ryswick,  and  greatly 
incensed  William  III. 

The  old  question  of  the  Spanish  Succession 
came  up  again,  and  a  Treaty  of  Alliance  was 
signed  at  the  Hague  between  England,  Holland^ 
Germany,  and  the  Elector  Palatine,  for  the  pur- 
})ose  of  upholding  William  III.  and  preventing  the 
ultimate  union  of  the  crowns  of  France  and  Spain 
in  the  person  of  the  same  Prince. 

Madame  began  by  having  a  secret  sympathy 
for  the  ''  Grand  Alliance,"  but  as  time  went  on  she 
became  quite  French  in  feeling. 

To  THE  Electress  Sophia. 

"  Fontainebleau,  Sept.  28th,  1701. 
^'  You  were  quite  right  in  guessing  that  King 
James's  last  discourse  to  his  son  was  about  religion. 
He  told  him  to  endure  death  rather  than  give  up 
his  Faith 

"'  You  can  hardly  believe  how  foolish  people  are 
in  Paris.  Everyone  wishes  to  pass  as  being  able  to 
call  up  the  spirits  of  the  dead,  and  indulge  in  other 
devilish  tricks;  in  fact,  they  are  becoming  mad. 
You  are  quite  right  in  saying  that  these  insane 
practices  are  the  outcome  of  the  thirst  for  luxury 
and  wealth " 

To  THE  Raugravine  Louise. 

"Versailles,  Oct.  12tli,  1701. 
'^  The  death  of  King  James  has  quite  saddened 

k2 


^32 


LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF  THE 


me.  His  widow's  state  would  melt  a  stone.  Good 
King  James  met  his  death  with  a  firmness  impos- 
sible to  describe,  and  as  though  he  was  preparing 
for  sleep.  The  eve  of  his  death  he  said,  ^  I  forgive 
my  daugliter  with  all  my  heart  for  the  injury  she 
has  done  me,  and  I  pray  God  to  forgive  her ;  also 
the  Prince  of  Orange  and  all  my  enemies.'  " 

"  FONTAINEBLEAU,  Oct.  13,  1701. 

*^  The  Queen  of  England  cannot  be  consoled  for 
the  death  of  her  husband,  although  she  bears  her 
loss  with  much  Christian  resignation.  ...  I  have 
nothing  new  to  tell  you.  I  walk  out  here  a  little,  I 
read,  I  write,  and  sometimes  the  King  drives  me 
to  the  hunt.  .  .  .  Twice  a  week  there  is  the  play, 
but,  of  course,  I  can  go  nowhere.  This  annoys  me 
very  much,  for  I  must  own  the  going  to  the  play 
is  still  my  greatest  pleasure  in  life " 

"  FONTAINEBLEAU,  Nov.  3rd,  1701. 

'^  I  believe  that  King  James  is  now  in  Heaven. 
The  Parisians  go  even  further,  and  declare  that  he 
works  miracles  ;  but  my  faith  does  not  carry  me 
thus  far 

^^They  care  little  in  France  what  sort  of  life 
men  lead.  As  long  as  they  do  not  rob  others,  or 
bear  false  witness,  they  are  allowed  to  do  any- 
thing, and  everyone  keeps  up  with  them,  however 
debauched  and  wicked  they  may  happen  to  be.  .  .  . 
I  have  written  to  my  aunt  that  she  spoils  Charles 
Maurice  by  laughing  at  him  when  drunk ;  it  will 
make  him  think  that  drinking  is  in  good  taste.'' 


5 


,\ 


MOTHER  OF  PHILIPPE  D^ ORLEANS,      133 

To   THE  ElECTRESS  SOPIIIA. 

"  Versailles,  Dec.  29th,  1701. 
^'  I  am  convinced  that  you  are  not  so  wrinkled 
as  I  am,  but  I  do  not  mind — having  never  been 
handsome  I  lose  nothing;  and  I  see  those  that  I 
once  knew  as  beauties  have  lost  more  than  mvself ; 
none  would  recognise  Mme.  de  la  Valliere ;  Madame 
de  Montespan's  skin  resembles  a  piece  of  paper  that 
children  have  twisted  about,  her  face  is  covered 
with  innumerable  little  wrinkles,  her  beautiful  hair 
has  become  as  white  as  snow,  and  her  face  is 
red " 

"  Versailles,  March  26th,  1702. 
^'  On  arriving  here,  one  of  my  son's  people 
informed  me  that  a  Paris  banker,  Samuel  Bernard, 
had  received  a  letter  from  England  informing  him 
of  King  William's  death.  This  brings  you  a  step 
nearer  to  the  Throne.  ..." 

The  following  letter,  written  about  this  time  to 
Herr  von  Harling,  shows  Madame  in  the  character 
of  a  truly  faithful  and  grateful  friend  :  — 

'^  The  sad  news  of  your  wife's  death  has  greatly 
grieved  me,  and  although,  considering  the  state 
illness  had  brought  her  to,  death  was  a  release  from 
suffering,  I  wept  for  her  with  all  my  heart.  .  .  . 
I  can  assure  you  that  none  can  sympathise  with 
you  as  I  do,  who  can  remember  what  care  she  took 
of  me  in  my  childhood ;  and  all  the  trouble  that  I 
must  have  given  her  makes  me  feel  truly  grateful 
to  her  memory.  .  .  ." 


1 1 


34 


LIFE   AND   LETTERS   OF  THE 


Madame  does  not  seem  to  have  been  much 
troubled  by  the  death  of  William  III.  As  will 
soon  be  perceived  Madame  detested  her  first  cousin 
George,  Elector  of  Brunswick,  the  more  so  that  he 
had  married  Sophia  of  Zell,  whose  mother,  Elinore 
d'Esmier,  she  had  known  in  her  youth,  and 
greatly  disliked. 

To  THE  Raugravine  Louise. 

"  Marly,  April  29th,  1702. 

"  The  Elector  of  Hanover  is  selfish  and  false. 
I  have  known  that  this  was  so  for  some  time,  for 
although  I  gave  him  several  marks  of  my  affection, 
he  never  showed  any  confidence  in  me,  and  would 
hardly  speak  to  me.  I  was  obliged  to  force  the 
words  one  by  one  out  of  him.  This  was  very  un- 
pleasant  

**The  Queen  of  England*  behaved  in  a  truly 
Christian  and  generous  manner  on  hearing  of  King 
William's  death.  Many  of  the  English  had  wished, 
on  the  arrival  of  the  news,  to  testify  their  joy. 
The  Queen  forbade  them  to  do  this,  and  speaks  of 
him  without  bitterness.  I  greatly  admire  this 
woman ;  she  has  certainly  never  done  anything  to 
merit  her  misfortunes.  I  feel  sure  that  my  aunt 
is  happier  as  she  now  is  than  were  she  Queen  of 
England,  for  the  English  are  a  false  and  singular 
people.  .  .  .  ." 

Madame  had  a  special  horror  of  inesalliances, 
whicli   neither   time,  nor  much  experience  of   the 

*  Mary  of  Modena,  widow  of  James  II. 


li!^  i 


MOTHER    OF  PHILIPPE   D'ORLEANS.     135 

thing  she  so  disliked,  abated.  Her  son's  marriage 
to  Mdlle.  de  Blois  she  felt  a  deep  disgrace; 
Louis  XIV.'s  to  Mme.  de  Maintenon  a  strange 
eccentricity ;  and  much  of  her  dislike  to  George  I. 
may  be  ascribed  to  his  having  wedded  the  unfor- 
tunate Sophia  of  Zell,  daughter  of  Elinore  d'Esmier. 
Writing  of  the  Koenigsmark  scandal  to  the  Rau- 
gravine Louise,  Madame  alludes  bitterly  to  the 
Duchess  of  Zell's  obscure  extraction  in  several 
of  her  letters,  for  she  felt  heartily  sorry  for  her 
aunt,  the  Electress  Sophia,  who  was  necessarily 
mixed  up  in  the  whole  story. 

This  year  Madame  lost  one  of  her  half  brothers- 
Charles  Maurice,  to  whom  she  was  greatly  attached. 
She  constantly  wrote  to  him  begging  him  to  give 
up  the  habits  of  intoxication  to  which  he  had  early 
become  addicted;  but  it  was  of  no  use,  and  he 
died,  to  quote  Madame's  own  words  ^ literally  con- 
sumed by  drink''  at  Berlin,  where  he  had  lived 
a  solitary  existence  for  some  years. 

To  THE  Electress  Sophia. 

"  Versailles,  April  29th,  1702. 

''1  can  quite  believe  that  King  William  died 
with  great  firmness,  for  one  generally  dies  as  one 

has  lived 

^^I  think  that  Princess  Anne  soon  became  con- 
soled for  her  brother-in-law  and  cousin's  death.  I 
cannot  understand  how  she  can  have  an  easy  con- 
science,  after  having  persecuted  her  father  till  his 


136 


LIFE  AND   LETTERS   OF  THE 


i . 


I 


death.  I  hope  that  she  will,  at  any  rate,  not  act 
badly  by  you " 

To  THE  Raugravine  Louise. 

,"  Marly,  April  29th,  1702. 
"  The  marriage  *  of  my  cousin,  the  Elector  of 
Brunswick,  has  done  more  ill  than  good,  and  will, 
in  any  case,  result  in  eternal  shame.  The  Duchess  f 
ought  more  than  any  one  else  to  take  to  heart  her 
daughter's  misfortune,  for  it  is  owing  to  the  evil 
way  in  which  she  brought  her  up  that  this  trouble 
has  fallen  upon  her.     There  are  some  here  who 

declare  her  innocent This  Duchess  was  of 

low  birth,  and  would  have  been  honoured  had  my 
first  gentleman-in-waiting  consented  to  marry  her. 
Think  how  ill-assorted  she  must  have  been  with  a 
Duke  of  Brunswick  ! '' 

"  Marly,  Aug.  9th,  1702. 

''News  has  been  received  that  the  King  of  Sweden 
with  two  thousand  men  have  put  to  rout  the  army 
of  the  King  of  Poland,  which  was  twice  as  strong 
as  his  own.  .  .  .  Yesterday  we  went  out  into  the 
garden  after  dinner  to  see  the  two  fine  statues  that 
the  King  has  lately  caused  to  be  put  up  ...  . 

"Believe  me,  dear  Louise,  if  we  had  nothing 
to  grieve  over  but  our  sins  we  should  be  very 
merry.  .  .  ." 

Louis  XIV's  campaign  against  the  Allies,  whose 

*  George  I.  married,  when  Elector  of  Brunswick,  Sophia  of 
Zell  in  1682. 

t  Sophia  of  Zell's  mother,  the  Duchess  of  Zelle-Lunebourg. 


MOTHER   OF  PHILIPPE  D'ORLEANS.     ii^'j 

army  was  commanded  by  Marlborough,  proved 
most  disastrous  to  France.  During  the  year  1702 
Bouffleurs  was  compelled  to  abandon  the  whole  lino 
of  the  Meuse.  And  on  the  22nd  of  October  Admiral 
Chateau  Renaud  had  to  set  fire  to  his  ships  in  the 
Bay  of  Vigo  to  prevent  their  falling  into  the  hands 
of  Admiral  Roche,  who  was  commanding  the  Allies. 

In  the  meantime  the  Archduke  Charles  had  been 
declared  King  of  Spain  in  Austria,  Germany, 
Holland,  and  England. 

Of  all  this  we  find  little  mention  in  Madame's 
letters.  The  probability  is  that  even  she  felt  the 
impropriety  of  the  King  of  France's  sister-in-law 
discussing  these  matters,  or  again  her  letters  may 
have  been  stopped  at  the  frontiers.  So,  with  the 
exception  of  light  references  to  the  existing  state  of 
things,  politics  were  banished  for  a  time  from  her 
letters. 

To  THE  Raugravine  Louise. 

"  Versailles,  April  8th,  1703. 

"I  do  not  know  whether  wars  and  fires  have 
altered  the  atmosphere  of  the  Palatinate,  but  in 
my  time  there  were  many  people  at  Heidelburg, 
Manheim,  and  in  the  mountains,  who  were  more 
than  a  hundred  years  old.  Walking  one  day  near 
the  Neuburg  Convent  I  saw  a  man  who  was  more 
than  a  hundred  and  two.  At  Manheim  there  was 
a  man  of  a  hundred  and  two  whose  wife  was  a 
hundred.  My  brother  told  me  that  he  had  seen  a 
peasant  at  Myssinnheim  w^ho  was  a  hundred  and 


»38 


LIFE  AND   LETTERS   OF  THE 


twenty-four  years  old.     You  see  by  this  that  long- 
lived  people  are  not  rare." 

During  the  course  of  this  spring  and  summer 
Madame  had  a  severe  illness.  ''  I  was  twice  sup- 
posed to  be  at  the  point  of  death/'  she  writes  in 
September  to  her  sister.  But,  with  the  exception  of 
her  son  and  daughter,  probably  few  cared  this  year 
as  to  whether  the  widow  of  Monsieur  lay  dying  or  was 
well,  for  all  eyes  were  fixed  on  Marshal  Vi liars  and 
the  army,  who  really  seemed  to  be  reconquering 
the  place  that  France  had  lost  the  year  before 
among  the  nations  of  Europe. 

Unfortunately  Villars'  successes  were  more  than 
counterbalanced  by  the  defeats  of  tlie  Duke  of 
Savoy  and  the  adhesion  of  Portugal  to  the  Allies. 
We  are  not  told  what  Madame  felt  or  said  when 
she  was  told  of  the  way  in  which  Montrevel  tried 
to  subdue  the  Protestant  insurrection  in  the 
Cevennes,  but  we  may  be  quite  sure  that  she 
rejoiced  when  Villars  was  sent  to  re])lace  him, 
and  by  his  firm  and  wise  handling  of  their  leader, 
Cavalier,  imposed  peace  and  order. 


"Versailles,  Feb.  17th,  1704. 

'*  One  finds  few  women  here  who  are  not  born 
coquettes.  They  flatter  themselves  that  as  Our 
Lord  behaved  most  charitably  to  women  of  their 
sort,  he  will  have  compassion  on  them;  the  thought 
of  Mary  Magdalene,  and  the  woman  of  Samaria,  con- 
soles them.     It  is  a  mistake  to  think  that  one  gets 


MOTHER   OF  PHILIPPE  D^ORLEANS.     139 

tired  of  coquetry  ;  far  from  getting  tired  of  it,  one 
at  last  finds  that  one  cannot  live  without  it " 

"  Versailles,  March  30th,  1704. 

^'I  could  not  fast,  being  unable  to  eat  fish, 
and  I  am  convinced  that  one  can  do  many  better 
things  than  spoil  one's  stomach  by  eating  too  much 
fish. 

*^  As  I  have  the  honour  of  knowing  the  King  of 
Poland  I  feel  sorry  for  him,  but  one  must  admit 
that  he  did  a  foolisli  thing  in  becoming  sovereign 
of  that  country." 

"  Versailles,  April  29th,  1704. 

*'  Your  dislike  to  putting  French  words  in  your 
letters  makes  me  laugh  ;  yet  it  is  a  very  silly 
habit  that  people  have  adopted,  as  if  one  could 
not  express  everything  in  German.  I  fear  that  in 
time  German  will  leave  off  being  a  language  at  all, 
through  being  corrupted  by  foreign  idioms. 

'^  Are  you  so  simple  as  to  think  that  Catholics 
have  none  of  the  fundamental  beliefs  of  Chris- 
tianity ?  Believe  me,  the  end  to  be  attained  being 
the  same  with  all  Christians,  the  differences  among 
them  are  only  priests'  business,  and  do  not  concern 
honest  people ;  but  we  ought  to  live  worthily  and 
in  a  Christian  manner,  being  merciful,  charitable, 
and  virtuous,  Preachers  ought  to  try  to  inculcate 
this  into  Christians,  and  not  quarrel  among  them- 
selves on  a  quantity  of  small  matters ;  but  to  do 
so  would  greatly  diminish  the  authority  of  these 


140 


LIFE   AND   LETTERS   OF  THE 


gentry,  so  they  continue  quarrelling,  leaving  aside 
the  most  important  and  essential  things " 

To  THE  Electress  Sophia. 

"Versailles,  Jan.  lltli,  1705. 

^^  I  know  Prince  Eugene  even  better  than  Prince 
Louis ;  the  latter  has  a  long  nose,  the  former  one 
much  too  short.  Although  first  cousins,  they  do 
not  resemble  one  another  in  the  least.  Prince 
Eugene  wished  to  enter  into  holy  orders.  If  our 
King  had  given  him  an  abbey,  or  only  a  pension, 
he  would  have  remained  here 

"  You  cannot  imagine  the  piety  of  the  Due  de 
Bourgogne ;  it  is  not  hypocrisy  but  really  heart- 
felt devotion ;  he  is  melancholy,  and  goes  about 
dreaming " 


To  THE  Raugravine  Louise. 

"Versailles,  Feb.  14th,  1705. 

"  I  do  not  know  how  to  tell  you  the  impression 
made  on  me  by  the  death  of  our  dear  Queen  of 
Prussia.*  My  eyes  ache  so  that  I  cannot  keep 
them  open,  my  head  also,  for  since  this  morning  I 
have  done  nothing  but  weep.  I  cannot  think  of 
my  aunt's  state  without  fear;  my  heart  aches  when 

I  think  of  her Why  did  not  God  take 

me  instead  of  that  dear  Queen,  who  might  have 
long  remained  the  joy  and  consolation  of  my  aunt, 
whilst  I  am  good  for  nothing  and  have  lived  long 
enough?  But  one  must  resign  one's  self  to  His 
holy  will " 

*  Sophia  Charlotte  of  Hanover,  grandmother  of  Frederick  the 
Great  and  daughter  to  the  Electress  Sophia. 


MOTHER   OF    PHILIPPE  D'ORLEANS.     141 

"  Versailles,  March  7th,  1705. 

^'  The  King  of  Prussia  is  far  from  ugly ;  I  have 
his  portrait.  I  also  think  that  he  will  marry 
again;  no  doubt  he  will  wed  the  Queen  Dowager 
of  Sweden " 

To  the  Electress  Sophia. 

"  Versailles,  March  8th,  1705. 

"  The  late  Queen  had  conquered  everyone's 
esteem  and  affection,  so  be  persuaded  that  she 
will  live  in  eternal  glory.  But  had  she  lived 
longer,  considering  her  bad  health,  she  would 
certainly  have  suffered  greatly,  whilst  now  she 
is  free  from  all  pain,  and,  as  we  are  bound  to  be- 
lieve  as   Christians,  in  possession  of  the   beatific 


vision. 


9> 


To  THE  Raugravine  Louise. 

"  Marly,  April  18th,  1705. 

^^  You  will  have  been  told  by  my  aunt  why  we 
are  still  here,  and  that  the  poor  little  Due  de 
Bretagne  died  last  Monday.  I  am  convinced  that 
the  doctors  sent  the  poor  little  Prince  into  the  next 
world  with  their  bleedings  and  remedies.  But  no 
one  shares  this  opinion  here,  so  I  leave  everyone 
alone  and  keep  my  thoughts  to  myself 

*^I  never  miss  reading  the  Bible.  Yesterday  I 
read  the  fifty-fourth  and  fifty-fifth  psalms,  the  four- 
teenth and  fifteenth  chapters  of  the  gospel  according 
to  Saint  Matthew,  and  the  third  and  fourth  of  Saint 
John's,  because  I  had  to  read  for   yesterday  and 


142 


LIFE   AND   LETTERS   OF  THE 


to-day,  as  I  could  not  do  so  this  morning  as  we 
hunted " 

'<  Marly,  May  2nd,  1705. 

^•When  I  choose  a  doctor  I  warn  him  that  he 
must  not  expect  blind  obedience  from  me.  I 
allow  him  to  tell  me  his  opinion,  but  not  to  get 
angry  if  I  do  not  follow  liis  advice ;  I  tell  him  that 
as  my  health  and  body  belong  to  me  I  mean  to 
manage  them  myself " 

To  THE  Electress  Sophia. 

"■  Trianon,  June  11th,  1705. 

"  I  am  very  well  lodged  here ;  my  windows  look 
out  on  the  Springs,  for  so  is  named  a  little  wood, 
so  leafy  that  at  noon  the  sun  cannot  penetrate  into 
it.  There  are  over  fifty  springs,  forming  little 
brooks,  all  on  an  incline " 

"  Marly,  Thursday,  July  9th,  1705. 

^*Allow  me  to  tell  you  the  absurdity  they  have 
invented  in  Paris  to  account  for  my  lord  Marl- 
borough not  having  given  battle  to  Marshal  Villars. 
They  say  that  he  believes  in  and  consults  wise 
men  and  fortune-tellers.  Well,  there  is  one  at 
Frankfort  who  has  a  great  reputation  ;  he  sent  for 
her  and  tried  to  force  her  into  telling  him  whether 
he  would  have  a  successful  campaign.  She  is  said 
to  have  told  him  tliat  Fortune  would  favour  him, 
provided  that  he  avoided  giving  battle  to  a  general 
who  wore  on  his  sword  a  knot  of  ribbons  given 
him  by  a  beautiful  princess.  Thereupon  he  sent 
a  spy  to  Villars'  camp  to  find  out  whether  he  had 


MOTHER  OF  PHILIPPE  D^ORLEANS,       143 

a  knot  of  ribbons  on  his  sword.  The  answer  was 
that  he  had  not.  So  everything  was  prepared  for 
the  attack.  But  next  day  my  lord  Marlborough 
sent  another  spy  to  the  French  camp,  who  returned 
saying  that  this  time  Villars  had  ribbons  on  his 
sword.  Immediately  others  were  sent  to  find  out 
from  whence  they  came,  and  his  valet  declared  that 
they  had  been  given  him  by  the  Princesse  de 
Conti;  so  my  lord  went  away  without  giving  battle. 
If  Villars'  people  had  been  quicker  they  would 
have  declared  that  he  held  those  ribbons  from  me, 
and  so,  thanks  to  the  deceit  my  lord  would  have 
been  beaten  according  to  the  prophecy." 

"  Marly,  Thursday,  July  IGth,  1705. 

''"  Something  also  happened  to  M.  de  Louvois, 
which  has  given  him  an  active  faith  in  fortune- 
tellers. He  was  told  of  a  child  who  could  see  and 
foresee  in  a  glass  of  water.  At  first  he  refused  to 
beUeve  it,  and  made  fun  of  everything  told  him. 
They  offered  to  prove  it  to  him.  At  that  time  he 
was  in  love  with  Mme.  Dufr(5noy,  and  that  very 
morning  being  alone  with  her,  he  had  taken  an 
emerald  bracelet  of  hers,  and  caused  her  to  search 
everywhere  for  it.  None  having  seen  him  take  it, 
the  matter  was  quite  unknown  excepting  to  himself. 

''  The  child  who  was  gazing  into  the  glass  of 
water,  and  whom  M.  de  Louvois  had  told  to  ask  the 
spirit  of  what  he  was  thinking,  replied  that  he 
was  doubtless  thinking  of  a  very  beautiful  lady, 
wearing    such    and   such   a   gown,   and   just    now 


144 


LIFE   AND   LETTERS   OF  THE 


searching  for  a  certain  object  with  great  anguish. 
'Ask  him  for  what  she  is  searching/  said  he.  'An 
emerald  bracelet,'  answered  the  child,  '  Make  the 
spirit  show  us  the  person  who  took  it,  and  tell  us 
what  he  did  with  it,'  said  M.  de  Louvois.  The 
child  suddenly  began  to  laugh.  *  But  I  can  see  the 
man/  he  answered ;  '  he  is  dressed  like  yourself, 
and  is  as  like  3^ou  as  two  drops  of  water ;  he  takes 
the  bracelet  off  the  lady's  dressing-table,  and  puts 
it  into  his  pocket  with  a  gold  box.'  Hearing  this 
M.  de  Louvois  became  as  pale  as  death ;  he  pulled 
the  box  from  his  pocket,  and  has  since  believed 
sorcerers  and  all  kinds  of  fortune-tellers'  pro- 
phecies." 

To  THE  Raugravine  Louise. 

"  Versailles,  Aug.  13th,  1705. 

^*  My  aunt  has  announced  the  marriage  to  me  of 
her  grandson,*  the  Elector  of  Brunswick,  with  the 
Princess  of  Anspach.f  I  am  glad  of  it,  for  I  hear 
that  she  is  very  agreeable.  I  hope  to  God  that 
this  marriage  will  turn  out  all  well ! " 

"  Marly,  Sept.  17th,  1705. 

^'  The  Count  of  Zell's  death  caused  me  real  pain, 
for  I  was  sincerely  attached  to  him.  I  do  not  ask 
after  his  wife,  for  she  was  far  from  being  an  honour 
to  us.  .  ,  .  ." 

"Nov.  5th,  1705. 
'*Do   not   imagine   that  those  who   are    always 

*  Son  of  George  I. 

t  Caroline  Wilhelmina,  afterwards  Princess  of  Wales.     To  her 
are  addressed  many  of  Madame's  later  letters. 


/ 


MOTHER  OF  PHILIPPE  D^ORLEANS.       145 

talking  of  piety  and  fear  of  God  are  the  most 
worthily  pious.  They  often  use  religion  as  a  cloak 
to  cover  many  iniquities;  true  devotion  is  a  special 
grace  which  God  does  not  give  to  all  men,  and  it 
consists  I  think  in  charity  and  love  of  God." 

To  the  Electress  Sophia. 

<'  Marly,  Nov.  8th,  1705. 

'^  Sappho  must  certainly  have  been  crazy  not- 
withstanding all  her  art,  else  she  would  not  have 
killed  herself  for  love  of  Phaon.  1  imagine  that 
Mdlle.  de  Scud^ry  *  only  wished  to  resemble  her  as  to 
learning,  for  she  has  always  been  a  model  of  virtue. 

^'M.  Pelisson's  affection  for  her  was  not  ill 
thought  of.  He  was  a  frightfully  ugly  man,  with  a 
square  visage  deeply  pitted  with  smallpox,  red  eyes, 
a  mouth  stretching  from  one  ear  to  another,  thick 
white  lips,  and  black  teeth.  You  can  guess  by  this 
that  Mdlle.  de  Scudery  was  allowed  to  be  intimate 
with  him  without  the  fact  giving  rise  to  any  scan- 
dal.    His  figure  was  not  handsome  either,  for  he 

had  large  shoulders,  no  neck,  and  no  calves 

Indeed  a  thorough  monster,  but  very  intelligent 
and  learned " 

*  Mdlle.  de  Scudery  appears  to  have  been  nicknamed  Sappho. 


L 


146 


LIFE   AND   LETTERS   OF  THE 


CHAPTER  VII. 


170G  TO  1708. 


To  THE  Raugravine  Louise. 

*'  Versailles,  April  11th,  1706. 

"  I  know  that  you  are  too  strict  to  go  to  the  play 
on  Sunday  ;  but  to  my  thinking  paying  and  receiv- 
ing visits  is  more  dangerous  than  doing  so,  for  dur- 
ing the  course  of  a  visit  it  is  difficult  not  to  speak 
ill  of  one's  neighbours,  and  this  is  a  far  graver  sin 
than  going  to  the  play.  I  do  not  approve  of  people 
going  to  the  play  instead  of  to  church,  but  after 
having  fulfilled  one's  religious  duties  I  consider  that 
the  playhouse  is  better  than  a  visit  to  one's  friends." 

It  was  currently  reported,  and  in  some  cases  be- 
lieved, that  a  doubt  hung  over  James  Stuart's  * 
birth  ;  some  said  that  the  Queen's  child  had  been  a 
girl,  others  that  the  infant  had  died,  but  all  agreed 
that  a  strange  child  had  been  brought  into  the 
palace,  hidden  in  a  warming  pan,  and  palmed  off 
upon  the  public  as  the  only  son  of  James  II.  and 
Mary  of  Modena.     Alluding  to  this  in  a  letter  to 

*  The  Old  Pretender. 


w^ 


MOTHER   OF  PHILIPPE  D'ORLEJNS.     147 

the  Raugravine,  Madame  says,  ^*  Is  it  possible  that 
you  believe  the  young  King  of  England  not  to  be 
the  Queen's  son  ?  I  would  lay  my  head  that  he  is 
what  he  seems  to  be.  To  begin  with,  he  is  the 
image  of  his  mother ;  and  I  know  a  lady  who  was 
present  at  his  birth,  not  at  all  as  the  Queen's  friend, 
but,  as  she  owned  to  me  since,  to  see  that  all  was 

as  it  should  be and  she  declares  that  he  is 

certainly  the  Queen's  child.  As  the  English  have 
a  fashion  of  behaving  strangely  to  their  sovereigns, 
it  is  not  surprising  that  they  have  not  yet  seen 
many  foreigners  on  the  throne." 

Owing  to  the  terrible  defeat  of  the  French  army 
at  Eamillies  by  the  Duke  of  Marlborough  on  the 
23rd  of  May,  1706,  France  had  to  abandon  Brabant 
and  a  great  part  of  Flanders.  The  Allies  entered 
Brussels,  where  the  Archduke  Charles  was  pro- 
claimed King  of  Spain.  During  the  Italian  cam- 
paign the  French  army  fared  no  better  than  in  the 
Low  Countries ;  the  Duke  of  Orleans  was  sent  by 
the  King,  his  uncle,  to  command  the  army  co- jointly 
with  Marechal  Marsin. 

To  THE  Raugravine  Louise. 

"  Marly,  June  24th,  170G. 

''  My  quiet  life  will  soon  be  filled  with  anxieties 
and  fears,  for  my  son  starts  in  a  week's  time  for 
Italy  to  command  the  King's  army ;  he  will  be 
over  Marechal  de  Villars.  M.  de  Vendome  is  going 
to  Flanders  to  take  the  command  under  the  King 
of  Bavaria. 

L  2 


148 


LIFE   AND    LETTERS   OF  THE 


"  It  is  to  be  hoped  that  good  fortune  will  favour 
the  King  and  that  Marlborough  will  be  beaten. 
Should  the  King  sustain  some  defeat  through  the 
agency  of  a  woman,  Queen  Anne  will  be  blameless 
in  the  matter,  another,  whose  name  I  will  not 
divulge,  being  guilty. t  Therefore  let  us  pray  for 
peace.  .  . 


» 


Madame  was  in  great  favour  with  the  King 
about  this  time,  but  her  fears  as  to  her  son's  safety 
drove  everything  but  the  army  out  of  her  head. 
News  arrived  very  irregularly,  and  the  wildest 
rumours  were  circulated.  On  the  12th  of  August 
she  writes:  *^My  son  is  before  Turin,  and  I  greatly 
fear  that  Prince  Eugene  is  even  now  advancing  to- 
wards him,  and  will  give  him  much  trouble.  I  am 
in  great  anguish  about  him,  and  this  news  which 
arrived  yesterday  kept  me  awake  the  greater  part 
of  the  night ;  "  and  on  the  12th  of  September  to 
the  Electress  Sophia :  ^^  My  son  is  not  thinking 
effecting  love-conquests.  Turin  is  the  place  he 
wishes  to  conquer."  Then  on  the  16th,  news  of 
the  defeat  had  arrived,  although  it  had  taken  place 
on  the  7th,  and  resulted  in  the  death  of  Marsin, 
the  severe  wounding  of  the  Due  d'Orldans,  and 
the  dispersion  of  the  French  army.  "The  last 
two  days  I  have  spent  in  anguish ;  although  they 
assure  me  that  my  son  is  out  of  danger,  I  cannot 

t  Allusion  either  to  Mme.  de  Maintenon  or  to  the  Duchess  of 
Marlborough. 


> 


MOTHER   OF  PHILIPPE  D'ORLEANS,     149 

bear  to  think  of  his  sufferings.  My  eyes  are  so 
swollen  that  I  cannot  see  out  of  them." 

«  Versailles,  Sept.  30th,  1706. 

''The  siege  of  Turin  with  its  sad  termination 
nearly  cost  my  son  his  life.  He  received  a  terrible 
wound,  but  since  the  24th  he  has  been  out  of 
danger.  I  was  so  distracted  during  three  days 
that  I  feared  I  was  going  to  lose  my  wits.  I  have 
always  said  that  they  ought  to  set  the  two  kings 
of  Spain  to  wrestle  together  and  award  the  king- 
dom to  the  stronger  of  the  two ;  this  would  be 
following  a  more  Christian  course  than  killing  such 
a  number  of  men." 

Madame  was  always  extremely  courteous  to  her 
inferiors,  reserving  her  right  of  plain  speech  for  her 
own  family  and  friends.  Writing  to  her  sister  she 
says  :  ''The  higher  in  rank  one  happens  to  be  the 
more  one  ought  to  be  courteous  on  account  of  the 
example  one  sets  to  those  who  copy  your  manners. 
The  King  is  extremely  courteous,  but  his  children 
and  grandchildren  do  not  follow  his  example  in  this 

respect Mme.   von   Pullwit   shows  her 

wisdom  by  following  Saint  Paul's  counsel.  He 
who  marries  does  well,  but  he  who  remains  single 
does  better.  This  is  quite  my  belief  ;  had  my  life 
been  at  my  own  disposal  I  should  have  followed 
Saint  Paul's  advice." 

"  Versailles,  Dec.  22nd,  1706. 

"  When  our  King  tried  to  convert  the  King  of 
Siam   to   Christianity   the   latter   replied  that  he 


150 


LIFE  AND   LEITERS  OF  THE 


believed  that  one  could  find  salvation  in  all  reli- 
gions, and  that  God,  who  had  not  made  every  leaf 
the  same  green,  wished  also  to  he  worshipped  in 
various  fashions;  so  the  King  of  France  might 
continue  to  serve  God  as  he  had  always  done, 
whilst  he  on  his  side  would  adore  God  according 
to  his  way,  and  that  if  God  wished  him  to  change  he 
would  inspire  the  desire  of  it  to  him.  I  find  that 
this  King  was  not  altogether  wrong.  I  think  that 
there  is  still  a  long  time  to  run  before  the  day 
of  the  Last  Judgment.  We  have  not  yet  seen  the 
anti-Christ,  and  before  he  arrives  I  shall  have  time 
to  have  assured  you  many  times  of  my  tender 
affection  for  you,  dear  Louise." 

*'  Versailles,  March  3rd,  1707. 

"I  lunch  alone  all  the  year  round,  but  get  it 
over  as  quickly  as  possible,  for  nothing  is  so  annoying 
as  to  have  twenty  footmen  round  you  who  look  at 
every  mouthful  that  you  swallow,  and  stare  per- 
sistently at  you.  I  do  not  spend  half  an  hour  at 
table.  I  dine  with  the  King.  We  are  five  or  six 
at  table ;  no  one  speaks  a  word ;  all  passes  as  though 
we  were  in  a  convent — perhaps  two  words  said  in 
a  whisper  to  one's  neighbour.  We  are  rendered  so 
serious  here  by  the  endless  plots  which  one  cannot 

discuss for  instance,  there  is  a  madman  in 

Paris  who  believes  that  he  can  call  up  an  angel 
where  he  is.  My  son,  wishing  to  amuse  himself, 
sent  for  him,  and  asked  him,  among  other  foolish 
questions,    how  long  the  King  had  still  to  live! 


^ 


MOTHER   OF  PHILIPPE  D'ORLEANS.     151 

This  can  enable  you  to  form  a  judgment  on  the 
rest.  I  have  yet  many  things  to  tell  you.  but  I 
must  stop,  for  it  is  half-past  seven  o'clock.  I  still 
have  five  letters  to  write,  and  at  a  quarter  to  ten 
I  have  to  go  to  the  concert " 

"  Marly,  March  13th,  1707. 
^^  I  am  very  glad  that  my  aunt  amused  herself 
at  Brunswick.    Amusement  is  good  for  the  health, 

and  I  hope  that  it  will  prolong  her  life It 

is  not  wonderful  that  one  no  longer  finds  the  gaiety 
in  Hanover  that  was  once  there,  the  Elector  is  so 
cold  that  he  turns  everything  into  ice.  His  father 
and  uncle  were  not  like  him.  It  will  be  even  worse 
with  the  Prince  Hereditary ;  he  does  not  at  all 
understand  how  a  prince  ought  to  act;  at  least 
it  seems  so  to  me  from  what  I  know  of  his 
actions " 

"  Marly,  April  14th,  1707. 

'^  I  do  not  know  whether  English  religious  books 
are  livelier  than  those  written  in  French  and  Ger- 
man ;  I  find  them  all  extremely  dull,  with  the 
exception  of  the  Bible,  of  which  I  never  tire.  I 
always  go  to  sleep  over  the  others " 

^'  Marly,  May  19th,  1707. 

'^  I  am  not  surprised  that  the  Elector  (of  Han- 
over) does  not  ask  after  you  ;  he  cares  for  nobody ; 
but  then,  as  generally  happens  to  those  kind  of 
people,  nobody  cares  for  him.  He  does  not  pride 
himself  on  his  courtesy ;  this  is  evident  to  those 
belonging  to  his  Court The  late  Monsieur 


mmm 


«t 


152 


LIFE   AND   LETTERS   OF  7HE 


never  missed  going  to  call  on  my  ladies  when  they 
were  ill,  and  not  only  the  ladies  in  waiting,  but  the 
maids  of  honour  also " 

To  THE  Electress  Sophia. 

"Marly,  May  19th,  1707. 

^'  An  hour  ago  I  received  a  letter  from  my  son 
commencing  by  these  words,  ^  The  town  and 
country  of  Valencia,  Madame,  are  at  last  conquered. 
It  is  a  beautiful  country,  full  of  orange-trees,  jas- 
mines, pomegranates,  and  all  kinds  of  fruits,  far 
pleasanter  than  the  horrible  country  by  which  we 
passed  before  reaching  it.  Our  enemies  have  re- 
tired seven  leagues  from  here  and  are  going  towards 
Catalonia.  I  do  not  apprehend  any  difficult  in 
taking  Aragon.'  Nearly  all  his  people  are  ill ;  I 
fear  that  he  will  end  by  becoming  so  also " 

**  Marly,  June  2nd,  1707. 

"  When  I  waked  up  last  Tuesday,  one  of  my 
son's  first  valets  had  just  arrived,  bringing  the  good 
news  that  the  town  of  Saragossa  and  all  the  king- 
dom of  Aragon  were  taken.  I  am  the  more  pleased 
because  the  enemy  were  twice  as  strong,  and  pos- 
sessed cannons,  whilst  my  son  had  none 

"  May  God  continue  to  render  us  assistance." 

When  dealing  with  the  social  and  even  political 
history  of  the  eighteenth  century,  one  cannot  over- 
look the  importance  assumed  by  the  lampoons, 
satires,  and  caricatures  of  the  time.  Generally 
written  in  France  but  printed  in  Holland,  they  were 


-■■!■■ 


MOTHER   OF  PHILIPPE  D'ORLEANS.     153 

difficult  to  suppress,  and  even  when  the  printed 
sheets   were   seized,  manuscript   copies   circulated 
freely.     Madame  seems  always  to  have  managed  to 
see  those  that  were  most  commented  upon,  and  to 
have  sent  copies  of  them  to  her  sister  and  the  Elec- 
tress Sophia.    It  was  well  known  at  Court  that  one  of 
the  most  clever  and  by  far  the  most  bitter  of  the 
chansoniers   of     the   period  was  the  Duchesse  de 
Bourbon,  one  of  the  King's  illegitimate  daughters. 
In  her  verses  she  respected  nobody.  The  King,  Mme. 
de  Maintenon— whom  she  specially  detested— the  • 
young  Due  de  Bourgogne,  all  were  pitilessly  ridi- 
culed^nd  held  up  to  public  scorn.   She  is  even  said 
to  have  been  the  author  of  the  following  lines  :— 

SuR  LA  Famille  Royale, 
«  Le  grandpere  est  un  fanfaron, 
Le  ills  un  imbecile, 
Le  petit  fils  un  grand  poltron, 

Oh,  la  belle  famille  ! 
Que  je  vous  plains,  pauvre  Francois, 

Soumis  u  cet  empire  ! 
Faites  comme  out  fait  les  Anglois, 
C'est  assez  vous  en  dire." 

To  Madame  some  other  chansonier  addressed  the 
following  agreeable  lines  shortly  after  her  son  be- 
came  Regent : — 

•'  Vous  n'etes  pas,  Madame, 
La  mere  du  Regent, 
Ce  scelerat  infame 

N'est  pas  de  votre  sang, 


T 


154  LIFE   AND   LETTERS   OF  THE 

C'est  un  nionstre  cxc'crablo 

Que  Tenfer  a  vomi, 
Un  tyran  detestable 

Qui  se  croit  tout  permis." 

Strangely  enougli  these  lampoons  rarely  attacked 
any  real  abuse.  The  state  of  the  peasantry,  etc  , 
seemed  doubtless  uninteresting  to  the  Duchesse  de 
Bourbon  and  her  fellow  versifiers.  On  the  other 
hand  the  Court  scandals  both  at  home  and  abroad 
afforded  a  rich  field  for  satires  and  epigrams. 

In  sending  the  letters  that  follow  to  the  Electress 
Sophia,  Madame  showed  herself  characteristically 
imprudent,  for  her  son  had  specially  begged  her  to 
neither  speak  of  his  correspondence  nor  show  it  to 
anybody,  and  the  Electress  was  necessarily  in  con- 
stant communication  with  the  Allies  through  lier 
son  the  Elector  and  her  son-in-law  the  King  of 
Prussia. 

Letters  written  by  the  Duke  op  Orleans  *  to  Madame,  and 

SENT  BY  HER  TO  THE  ElECTRESS  SoPHIA, 

1. 

**  Saragossa,  June  5th,  1707. 

^^  Tilly  has  arrived,  Madame,  and  gave  me  your 
letter  which  I  had  been  waiting  for  with  great 
impatience.  I  am  not  surprised  at  the  way  they 
greeted  you,  saying,  '  I  was  not  there,'  but  I  am 
much  touched  by  the  manner  in  which  you  have 
gone  into  all  this  matter  for  my  sake.     Although 

*  Afterwards  the  Regent. 


>! 


^ 


1 


MOTHER   OF  PHILIPPE  D^ORLEANS.     155 

accustomed  to  the  marks  of  your  affections,  I 
always  receive  them  with  renewed  joy.  There  is 
nothing  here  to  tell.  M.  de  Berwick  is  expected 
immediately  ;  my  artillery  arrives  slowly,  or  rather 
does  not  arrive  at  all,  wliich  cruelly  alters  my 
plans.  Nothing  remains  for  me  to  say,  Madame, 
but  to  assure  you  of  my  respect  and  tenderness, 
due  to  you  from  everybody  as  well  as  from 
myself." 

2. 

"  At  THE  Camp,  June  12th,  1707. 

'*  I   have   at  last   received,    Madame,  the  letter 
which  you  did  me  the  honour  to  write,  by  Tilly. 
Through  some  accident  it  went  to  Madrid,  which 
caused  me  at  first  some  anxiety,  but  I  have   tho- 
roughly examined  the  seal  and  satisfied  myself  that 
it  had  not  been  opened.       That  of  the  21st  has 
arrived,  but  rather  later  than  it  ought  to  have  done. 
I   do   not   wonder   at   this,  for   our   post   is   very 
irregular.      Madame,  I  beg  of  you  to  inform  me 
when  you  wish  to  play  me  the  trick  of  showing  my 
letters,  for  then  I  shall  be  more  careful  than  I  now 
am,  confident  as  I  am  in  your  goodness  to  me.     It 
is  not  the  kind  manner  in  which  Her  Highness  the 
Electress  speaks  of  me  which  frightens  me,  but  her 
praises   are   excessive,   and  trouble  me  the    more 
because  I  know  that  anything  worthy  in  my  letters 
is  that  which  comes  straight  from  the  heart,  that  is 
to  say  the  feelings  I  entertain  for  you " 


156 


LIFE  AND   LETTERS   OF  THE 


3. 


"  At  Ballobar,  this  2nd  of  July,  1707. 

*^Coche  has  given  me  your  letter,  Madame.  I  am 
not  at  all  surprised  at  what  you  tell  me  of  that 
good  lady.  My  year  ends  as  it  began,  and  I  find 
my  big  English  mule  *  as  dull,  and  against  every- 
thing I  desire,  as  ever ;  but  there  is  but  one  month 
from  now  to  the  2nd  of  August,  and  it  is  little 
probable,  unless  God  or  the  Devil  should  interfere, 
tliat  some  change  should  not  occur  by  then.  The 
enemy  has  finally  left  Cinca,  where  they  made  mo 
waste  fifteen  days  to  my  great  regret.  Mequi- 
nanca  is  not  yet  taken,  even  a  saint  would  become 
impatient,  and  I  am  not  yet  one.  The  post  is 
starting.  I  give  this,  Madame,  to  the  first  messenger, 
wlio  will  inform  you  of  many  things.  I  content 
myself  with  thanking  you  and  asking  you  to  con- 
tinue your  kindness  to  me.  .  . 


V 


Madame  to  the  Electress  Sophia. 

**  So  as  to  make  you  understand  this  last  letter  T 
must  tell  you  that  last  year,  when  my  son  was 
starting  for  Italy,  an  astrologer  made  him  two 
prophecies ;  ho  predicted  all  the  evil  that  has  hap- 
pened to  him  this  year,  but  said  that  the  year 
beginning  on  this  2nd  of  August  would  be  more 
fortunate.  So  I  wrote  to  him  to  think  of  this 
coming  year  ;  as  all  the  harm  predicted  ensued,  no 
doubt  the  happiness  will  arrive  too.  He  replied  to 
this  what  you  have  just  read " 

*  Probably  a  reference  to  the  Duke  of  Berwick. 


i-] 


MOTHER   OF  PHILIPPE  D'ORLEJNS.     157 

"  Versailles,  July  28th,  1707. 

^^Villars  is  not  wanting  in  wit,  and  is  very 
courageous,  but  he  looks  crazy  and  makes  horrible 
faces.  This  man  is  a  living  romance,  although  he 
is  horribly  selfish.  He  is  not  wrong  to  be  jealous 
of  his  wife ;  she  is  pretty,  has  a  good  figure,  a 
pleasant  manner,  and  is  a  terrible  coquette.  She 
pretends  here  to  be  very  fond  of  her  husband,  but 
no  one  believes  in  it " 

Letter  from  the  Duke  of  Orleans  to  Madame,  and  sent  by 

her  to  the  Electress  Sophia. 

'-  Algayle,  July  30th,  1707. 

*'I  received  your  letter  of  the  17th,  Madame, 
the  day  before  yesterday.  The  mule  of  whom  I 
spoke  to  you  is  but  a  donkey  ;  his  obstinacy,  joined 
to  the  ignorance  of  a  Spaniard  born  in  Italy,  to 
whom  he  gives  his  full  confidence,  nearly  starved 
our  army,  and  has  prevented  our  doing  anything; 
but  by  dint  of  work  I  have  put  a  little  order  into 
all  this.  We  are  going  to  attack  Monca.  But  I 
fear  that  nothing  better  will  occur  unless  God 
should  extend  us  his  help.  And  I  do  not  think 
that  the  Provence  affair  helps  me  here  with  money 
or  food.  If  all  this  ends  well  I  shall  believe  in  the 
existence  of  miracles  and  hail  you  as  a  prophetess. 
In  the  meantime  I  am  as  they  say,  pulling  the  devil 
by  the  tail,  but  'Grod  tempers  the  wind  to  the 
shorn  lamb,'  and  what  would  frighten  another  only 

draws  me  on I  have  had  the  Balaquiver 

bridge  mended  ;  we  shall  soon  enter  our  new  quai- 


I 


158 


LIFE  AND   LETTERS   OF  THE 


I! 


ters  and  I  into  my  31tli  year.  I  hope  to  God  that 
it  will  differ  from  my  last,  but  it  will  be  certainly 
the  same  in  the  sentiments  of  respect  and  tender- 
ness which  will  always  be  equally  graven  on  my 
heart " 

To  THE  RaUG RAVINE  LoUISE. 

"  Versailles,  Oct.  27tli,  1707. 

"  The  son  of  the  Princesse  de  Tarente,  the  Due 
de  la  Tremouille,  is  in  great  grief,  for  he  has  lost 
his  wife  ;  the  doctors  killed  her  as  they  killed  our 
late  Queen.  She  had  an  abscess  ;  they  bled  her  so 
often  that  it  burst,  and  she  died  in  a  few  days. 
My  aunt  writes  me  that  the  Hereditary  Prince  will 
not  accompany  his  father  to  the  army  ;  it  is  a  ridi- 
culous thing  to  stay  with  one's  wife  whilst  the 
whole  world  is  fighting.  The  Due  de  Bourgogne 
and  his  brother,  the  Due  de  Berri,  start  on  the  25tli 
to  join  the  army  fighting  in  Provence  against  the 
Duke  of  Savoy.  The  youngest  goes  as  a  volunteer, 
the  eldest  will  command  the  army " 

«  Versailles,  Oct.  27th,  1707. 

"  We  received  yesterday  the  good  news  of  my 
son's  having  taken  the  town  of  Lerida.  It  was 
splendidly  defended  by  the  inhabitants  ;  the  women 
and  priests  came  out  on  the  walls  and  fought,  but 
our  people  managed  to  take  the  town.  The  garri- 
son and  townspeople  took  refuge  in  the  castle. 
The   Prince   of   Darmstadt*   begged  my    son    to 

*  George  of  Hesse  Darmstadt. 


*- 1 


MOTHER  OF  PHILIPPE  D^ORLEANS,        159 

allow  the  monks  and  women  to  pass  out,  but  my 
son  replied  tliat  he  did  not  wish  to  lose  the  sight 
of  such  courageous  deeds,  and  that  as  they  had  so 
well  defended  the  town  he  should  be  charmed  to 
also  see  them  defend  the  castle.  We  hope  that 
hunger  will  force  them  to  give  in.  It  is  not  a  little 
honour  for  my  son  to  have  taken  a  town  which  has 
successfully  resisted  two  famous  generals,  the  Prince 
and  the  Due  d'Harcourt " 

*'  Versailles,  Nov.  24th,  1707. 

^^  I  am  ashamed  of  not  having  answered  you 
sooner,  but  I  have  received  so  many  letters  and 
visits  of  congratulation  on  the  taking  of  Lerida 
that  I  hardly  know  what  I  am  about 

^^  It  is  absurd  that  they  wish  to  end  our  corre- 
spondence in  Germany ;  we  neither  of  us  mix  in 
politics.  I  am  very  pleased  to  hear  of  the  good 
town  of  Heidelberg  being  so  well  rebuilt.  I  hope 
that  God  will  preserve  it  from  new  misfortunes. 
Since  M.  de  Louvois'  death  they  burn  less,  so  I 
hope  that  the  town  will  never  again  have  that 
xaie.  .  •  •  • 

To  THE  Electress  Sophia. 

"  Versailles,  Dec.  1st,  1707. 

"  I  shall  have  to  pay  a  visit  to  the  all-powerful 
lady  when  once  at  Marly.  My  nature  is  not  all  to 
her  taste.  I  am  not  flattering  enough.  Flattery 
is  a  difficult  art,  and  one  that  one  does  riot  learn  on 
the  Heidelberg  hill.  To  be  an  adept  in  it  one 
must  have  been  born  in  Prance  or  Italy '' 


i 


i6o 


LIFE  AND   LETTERS   OF  THE 


«  Versailles,  Dec.  31st,  1707. 
"Villars  is  not  at  all  in  disgrace ;  the  King  treats 
him  well  and  often  speaks  to  him.     To  ravage  and 
burn   the  enemy's  country  has  quite  gone  out  ot 

fashion.     No  part  of  Italy  was  ransacked 

"Marshal  Catinat  isnotin  the  leasta  self-interested 
man.  He  was  owed  several  years'  pay.  M.  de 
Chamillart,  wishing  to  give  him  a  proof  of  his 
friendship  at  this  time,  sent  him  the  whole  sum  in 
one  lump.  But  he  refused  it,  saying  that  he 
had  enough  to  live  upon,  and  that  the  King  wanted 
it  even  more  than  himself. 


•     •     • 


ELlS'j^BE.TH  CH.4RLOTE. , 

C/itir/ej-L  oirys  Pruic^  PaliUin  dtL 

^c  t^ft/^ May  tdji.e-ta^ej-  iT.ijir  fan 

•^sfJonsa  ie  JLf*iiJenunn  Son  jHtessi'Bcr\/aie"<^ 
.''HMue  df  I.i>ttur  irCranr//  ~ 


THESSE.  DORLEANS FiUe  Jt'  ■ 
Hhyrt CJectfiw de /f moire  SC.ct'Je 
ue  a^Hesj-e  Cetf^Ptitirej^sc  ^^T'JVi'ic>' 
CUj^sr-atum  d^-  Son  /ihrej'tc  nAfi^tx^ 
^dUm^tui  /e  ijfdi'  Nonemhre  tO^jf/ie. 
P/idlifje  dfFratici'Dtu-  dOt'h'ansjfrera.- 


--ir. 


MOTHER   OF  PHILIPPE  D^ORLEANS.     i6i 


It 


CHAPTER  VIII. 


1708  TO  1710. 


"  FoNTAiNEBLEAU,  July  21st,  1708. 

"  My  son  has  taken  Tortosa.  after  a  long  defence 
ably  conducted  by  the  besieged,  who  made  a  final 
sortie  on  the  niglit  of  the  ninth,  which  cost  my  son 
three  hundred  of  his  men.  He  also  was  in  the 
trenches,  and  it  is  a  wonder  that  he  escaped  with- 
out hurt.  On  the  tenth  they  built  the  scaling 
tower.  The  governor,  a  certain  d'Efferu,  sent 
hostages  and  a  treaty  of  capitulation  of  which  my 
son  did  not  approve.  He  therefore  sent  back  the 
hostages  and  told  him  that  if  the  town  did  not 
capitulate  immediately  without  conditions  lie  would 
take  it  by  assault.  The  citizens  became  afraid  and 
all  signed.  One  of  my  son's  clauses  in  the  treaty 
was  that  they  would  also  give  up  a  stronghold  in 
the  mountains  named  Alby,  which  is  occupied  by 
two  tliousand  men,  and  cuts  ofif  the  communication 
between  the  kingdoms  of  Aragon  and  Valentia." 


"  FONTAINEBLEAU,  Alig.  Ist,  1708. 


ii 


I  was  aware  that  a  battle  had  been  lost,  but 
I  know  nothing  in   detail,  for  we  are  forbidden  to 

M 


,62  LIFE  AND   LETTERS   OF  THE 

speak  of  it,  and  those  with  the  army  are  forbidden 
to  write  anything  home  in  their  letters " 

"  FONTAINEBLEAU,  Aug.  lltll,  1708. 

"  I  must  own  that  the  fall  of  Tortosa  rejoiced  me 
to  the  bottom  of   my  soul,  particularly  as  all  the 
princes,   the   Due,  the    Prince    de   Conti,   M.   du 
Maine,  and  the  Comte  do  Toulouse  had  held  tlie 
thing  impossible.     The  Due,  before  the  King,  said 
mockingly  to   Mme.  d'Orleans  that  my  son  had 
begun  wrongly,  and  would  never  take  the  town. 
But  the  funniest  part  of  the  story  is,  that  one  day 
they  sent  SI.   Dangean  to  compliment  me  in  an 
ironical  fashion  on  my  son's  conquest  of  the  town. 
The  very  evening  of  that  same  day  the  Marquis  de 
Lambert  arrived  with  the  news  that  the  town  had 
indeed   capitulated.      I   wish   that   you  had  been 
witness  of   the  Due's  and   the  Prince  de  Conti  s 
annoyance ;    they   could  not  have    looked    more 
troubled  had  they  been  warned  that  their  own  death 
was  near.    This  certainly  increased  my  joy.    I  was 
also  happy  to  see  that  the  King  seemed  pleased 
and  that  this  time  he   does  not  share   the   griet 
caused  to  those  round  him  by  my  son's  success." 

"  FoxTAiNEiiLEAU,  Aug.  18tli,  1708. 

"  Thank  God  my  son  is  not  wanting  in  wit. 
He  has  also  studied  not  a  little  and  knows  a 
great  deal  more  than  the  princes  belonging  to  the 
royal  family.  He  is  so  attracted  by  difficulty  of 
any   sort,  that  he  neglects   rather  too   much   the 


; 


MOTHER   OF  PHILIPPE  D'ORLEJNS.     163 

smaller  things  of  life.  The  taking  of  Lerida  and 
Tortosa  was  due  to  his  determination ;  the  whole 
of  the  council  of  war  was  against  it.  Then  again 
they  left  him  quite  unprovided,  and  he  had  some 
difficulty  to  get  food,  etc.,  for  his  army ;  but  for 
him  they  would  all  have  died  of  Imnger " 


(( 


Versailles,  Oct.  28tli,  1708. 


"  With  the  exception  of  knaves  and  business  men 
no  one  iiere  can  pretend  to  great  riches.  Villa  rs 
alone  enriched  himself  in  the  Palatinate.  Marshal 
de  Marsin  said  to  him  one  day  that  his  money 
was  goods  badly  acquired.  '  It  cannot  be  goods 
badly  acquired,'  replied  Villars,  '  for  the  King  gave 
it  to  me.'  '  The  King  cannot  give  you  what  is 
not  his  to  give,'  answered  de  Marsin ;  '  I  should 
be  sorry  to  have  that  to  reproach  myself  with.'  " 

"Versailles,  Dec.  IGtli,  1708. 

"  Our  Queen  of  Spain  is  so  angry  at  the 
insolent  manner  with  which  her  sister  behaved  to 
me,  that  she  sent  a  message  to  her  by  my  son, 
recommending  her  to  make  peace  with  me ;  she 
also  wrote  such  an  angry  letter  about  this,  that  the 
King  asked  my  son  what  it  was  all  about.  He 
added  that  he  approved  of  the  advice  given  to  the 
Princess  as  to  her  conduct  with  me,  and  hoped  that 
she  would  never  more  do  anything  to  anger  me. 
Whereupon  the  Duchesse  charged  my  son  to  tell 
me  that  her  only  desire  was  to  be  friends  with  me. 
I  immediately    went  to  her  and   said,   '  Madame, 

M  2 


(T 


164  LIFE  AND   LETTERS   OF  THE 

my  son  has  just  caused  me  great  pleasure  by  tellin 
me  that  you  will  behave  more  kindly  to  mo  in 
future.      I  also  will  try  not  to  cause  you  any  dis- 
pleasure.  I  never  intended  to  do  so,  so  have  been 
more  unfortunate  than  guilty.'     She  became  as  red 
as  fire,  and  seemed  quite  put  out  of  countenance. 
'You  took   my   timidity  for    aversion,'    said  she. 
'And  why,'  I  replied,   '  should  you  be  timid  with 
one  who  only  wishes  to  appease  and  honour  you  ?  ' 
•  Let  us  forget  the  past,'  said  she,  '  and  I  hope  that 
you  will  like  me  better  in  the  future.'     '  I  certainly 
shall,'  I  answered,  '  if  you  behave  better  towards 
me.'    Whereupon  we  began  talking  of  other  things. 


•     •     •     • 


"M.  deVendome  has  coino  back;    he  came  to 
see  me  to-day,  having  grown,  to  my  eyes,  greatly 

stouter " 

"  Versailles,  Jan.  lOtli,  1709. 

"  I  must  thank  you  for  those  fine  medals ;  *  you 

cannot  imagine  what  amusement  they  afford  me. 

I  spend  long  days  in  looking  at  and  sorting  them. 

Last  Monday  I  bought  a  hundred  and  fifty,  with 

the  money  that  the  King  gave  me  as  a  New  Year's 

gift.      I  now  have  a  gold  medal  cabinet— all  the 

Koman  emperors  from  Julius  Cffisar  to  Heraclius. 

There  is  not  one  missing,  and  amongst  them  are 

some  very  rare  coins  that  the  King  does  not  possess. 

I  obtained  them  very  cheap,  two  hundred  and  sixty 

•  Madame  was  a  great  collector,  and  bad  a  remarkably  perfect 
set  of  old  medals. 


MOTHER    OF  PHILIPPE   D'ORLEANS.     165 

of  them  I  bought  by  weight.  In  all  I  have  four 
liundred  and  ten  gold  medals.  I  amuse  myself  by 
hearing  learned  men  discuss  them,  and  I  have  the 
inscripUons  that  are  on  the  back  translated  to  me. 
Tills  interests  me  greatly.  You  are  right  in  think- 
ing tliat  Hanoverian  medals  are  incomparably  finer 
than  those  of  Nurembourg " 

"  Vkrsailles,  Jan.  37tli,  1709. 

"I   cannot   count   upon   the  friendship   of  the 
'  badly  trained  plant.'  *      The  only  things  that  I 
insist  upon  from  her  is  that  she  should  not  mock 
me  before  my  face,  that  she  should  answer  when  I 
speak  to  her,  not  contradict  me  flatly,  and  behave 
with  politeness  during  my  visits.      I  have  such  a 
cough   that  I   cannot  go  out.     I  owe  this  to   the 
Dauphin's  courtesy.    Last  Sunday  it  was  frightfully 
cold,  and  a  great  fire  had  been  lighted   in   the 
chimney  of  the  apartment  where  we  dine.      The 
Dauphin  and  the  Duchesse  de  Bourgogne  sit  on  the 
King's  right ;  the  Due  de  Bourgogne  and  Due  do 
BeiTi  at  the  other  end  of  the  table  ;  I  sit  next  tlic 
Duchesse  de  Bourgogne,  and  Mme.  d'Orlcans  near 
the   Princess;    the  King   right    in    front    of    the 

chimney. 

"If  no  one  places  themselves  before  me  I  receive 
the  full  brunt  of  the  fire.  It  was  all  the  more 
spiteful  on  the  Dauphin's  part  that  he  is  perfectly 
able  to  warm  himself  without  annoying  me,  but  as 

»  The  Dnclicsso  de  Bowgogne. 


i66  LIFE  AND   LETTERS   OF  THE 

soon  as  ho  saw  any  one  placing  tliemselvos  before 
me  he  instantly  signed  to  them  to  go  away ;  this 
gave  me  a  headache,  a  cough,  and  a  cold 

To  THE  EADOnAVISE  LODISE. 

"  Versailles,  Feb.  22nd,  1709. 

"  To-morrow  a  new  doctor  is  going  to  be  ap- 
pointed to  my  especial  service.  He  is  a  young 
man,  forty-two  years  old,  and  will  be  the  fourth 
doctor  I  have  had  since  I  have  been  in  France.  No 
doubt  he  will  bury  me,  for  I  am  nearly  fifteen  years 
older  than  he  is.  I  do  not  know  him,  but  I  have  been 
told  so  much  good  of  him  that  I  took  him." 

"  Vekkailles,  March  2nrl,  1709. 

"  I  never  knew  the  times  so  bad  as  they  are  now ; 
the  poor  are  dying  from  cold  like  flies.     The  mills 
have  stopped  working,  and  this  has  been  the  cause 
of  many  people  dying  from  hunger.     I  was  told  a 
sad  story  yesterday  about  a  woman  who  stole  a 
loaf  in  Paris  from   a  baker's   shop.      The  baker 
wishes  to  have  her  arrested.  She  says  crying,  'If  my 
misery  were  known  you  would  not  wish  to  deprive 
me  of  this  loaf.    I  have  three  little  naked  children 
at  home  who  asked  for  bread ;  not  being  able  to 
bear  it  I  stole'this.'    The  commissary  before  whom 
she  was  brought  made  her  take  him  to  her  home  ; 
there  he  found  three  little  children  covered  with 
rat^s  and  shivering  in  a  corner.     He  said  to  the 
eldest,  '  Where  is  your  father  ?  '    The  child  replied, 
'  Ho  is  behind  that  door.'     The  commissary,  wish- 


MOTHER   OF  PHILIPPE  D'ORLEJNS.     167 

ino-   to  know  what  the    father   was   doing  there, 
looked,  and  started  back  seized  with  horror.     The 
poor  wretch  had  hung  himself  in  a  fit  of  despair. 
Similar  things  occur  every  day.  They  write  me  from 
Paris  that  a  young  girl  predicted  the  date  of  her 
own  death,  and  also  that  there  would  be  a  great 
battle  fought  near  Bethune,  that  the  French  would 
win,  and  that  a  general  peace  would  ensue.     It 
remains  to  be  seen  whether  or  not  this  will  prove 
a  true  prophecy,  but  it  is  certain  that  the  young 
girl  died  at  the  hour  and  date  that  she  predicted. 
I  have   also  heard  that  certain  Canadian  savages 
know  the  future.     Ten  years  ago  a  French  gentle- 
man, who  was  once  page    to  Marshal    Humieres, 
and  who   married    one   of    my   ladies -m-waitmg, 
brought  back  a  savage  with  him  to  France.     One 
day  whilst  at  table,  the  latter  began  weeping  and 
making  faces.     Longueil  (for  that  was  the  gentle- 
man's name)  asked  him  what  was  the  matter.     The 
savao-c  wept  even  more  bitterly  than  before.    Lon- 
gueif  insisting  on  knowing  what  was  the  matter, 
the  savage  said,  '  Force  me  not  to  tell  thee,  for  it  is 
thee  that  it  concerns,  not  I.'    At  last  he  continued : 
'  I  saw  out  of  the  window  that  thy  brother  has 
been  assassinated  in  such  a  place  in  Canada.'    Lon- 
gueil  began  to  laugh,  and  said,  '  Thou  art  crazy. 
The  savage  answered,  'I  am  not  crazy;  writedown 
what  I  have  told  thee  and  thou  wilt  see  whether 
or  not  I  was  mistaken.'   Longueil  wrote  it  down  and 
six  months  after,  when  the  vessel   arrived   from 


^ 


N 


1 68 


LIFE   JND   LETTERS   OF  THE 


Canada,  he  learned  that  his  brother  had  been  assas- 
sinated at  the  exact  time  and  at  the  place  where 
the  savage  had  seen  it  in  the  sky  through  the 
window.     This  is  a  true  story." 

"Versailles,  March  IGtli,  1709. 

*^It  is  owing  to  bad  people,  and  not  to  the  bad 
weather,  that  I  do  not  receive  my  letters  regularly 
from  Hanover.  This  is  clearly  proved  to  me  by 
the  fact  that  sometimes  they  give  me  letters  on 
a  certain  day,  which  letters  are  not  those  due 
at  that  particular  date,  and  so  as  to  show  me 
that  they  were  opened,  they  take  a  page  belonging 
to  one  letter  and  put  it  into  another.  Indeed 
they  mix  them  all  up  so  much  together  that  it 
often  takes  me  a  quarter  of  an  hour  to  sort 
them " 

"  Versailles,  April  20th,  1709. 

"What  name  do  the  doctors  give  to  Amelia's  * 
illness?  She  might  have  made  you  the  answer  once 
o-iven  by  a  dying  man  to  a  monk  who  was  exhorting 
him  to  be  patient.  '  Father,'  said  he,  '  nothing  is 
easier  than  to  preach  the  virtue  of  patience  ;  but  put 
yourself  in  my  place,  ill  as  I  am,  and  you  will  feel 
whether  patience  is  easy  to  practise.'  • 

*'  Death,  dear  Louise,  is  the  last  absurdity  that 
we  are  capable  of  committing ;  so  we  must  put  it  off 
as  long  as  possible,  particularly  when  we  are  of 
some  use  in  this  world,  as  you  are  to  your  nephews 

•  Another  of  Madame's  half-sisters. 


mmm 


rw^ 


MOTHER   OF  PHILIPPE  D^ORLEANS.     169 

and  nieces.  Your  nephew  does  not  know  me,  and 
probably  cares  little  for  my  approbation,  which  he 
entirely  possesses,  for  I  blame  his  father's  conduct 
to  him.  There  is  no  reason  in  being  cowardly 
because  one  happens  to  be  an  only  son ;  and  the 
Lord  God  can  take  us  under  his  protection  any- 
where  So  it  is  far  better  for  your  nephew 

to  go  out  and  see  the  world  than  stop  at  home  and 

only  think  of  perpetuating  the  family  name 

In  this  sort  of  case  I  think  that  a  young  man  may 
disobey  his  father ;  all  the  world  must  admire  him 
for  going  off  to  fight,  and  although  the  Duke  of 
Schomberg  seems  very  angry,  no  doubt  he  is 
secretly  proud  of  his  son's  energy  and  decision." 

"  Versailles,  April  27th,  1709. 

*^  Prince  Eugene  is  witty  and  clever,  but  small 
and  ugly.  His  upper  lip  is  so  short  that  he  cannot 
shut  his  mouth.  One  perceives  always  two  large  long 
teeth.  He  has  a  rather  turned-up  nose  with  wide 
nostrils  ;  but  his  eyes  are  not  ugly,  and  very  bright. 
....  We  shall  know  to-day  whether  we  shall 
have  war  or  peace ;  I  hope  to  God  that  we  shall 
have  the  latter " 

To  THE  Electress  Sophia. 

"Marly,  May  2nd,  1709. 

'^  Queen  Anne  is  quite  right  in  not  wishing  to 
re-marry.  From  what  I  have  heard  of  him  I  do 
not  fancy  that  she  lost  much  in  Prince  George. 
To  shut  oneself  up  in  a  darkened  chamber  is  very 


\ 


rfc  i.-g 


170 


LIFE  AND   LETTERS   OF  THE 


II 


iinliealtliy.    Perhaps   slie   does   not  always  remain 

in  it. 

*^  As  far  as  I  can  judge  by  the  accounts  given 
here,  the  Duke  of  Marlborough  and  Prince  Eugene 
come  to  Holland  rather  to  make  war  than  peace. 
We  are  beginning  to  think  that  the  latter  will  never 
come  to  pass " 

To  THE  Raugravine  Louise. 

"Marly,  May.5tli,  1709. 

''  Monday  I  have  to  write  to  the  two  Queens  of 
Spain,  also  to  the  Duchess  of  Savoy,  and  wish 
with  my  business  men  to  settle  my  bills  and  pay- 
ments. Tuesday  I  shall  receive  the  visit  of  the 
ambassadors  and  envoys ;  in  the  afternoon  I  must 
write  to  my  daughter  and  to  three  of  her  children 
who  already  write  to  me.  Wednesday  I  write  to 
the  Electress  and  to  Modena,  and  I  reply  to  the 
letters  that  I  have  not  yet  answered.  Thursday  I 
write  again  to  Hanover,  and  I  sometimes  attend 
evening  prayers  and  benediction  on  that  day  as 
well  as  Sunday.  Friday  I  write  to  Luneville. 
Saturday  is  the  only  day  I  have  no  courier  to  send 
out " 

"  Vrrsailles,  June  8th,  1709. 

'^  I  am  very  glad  that  the  Elector  has  resolved  to 
treat  his  subjects  better.  When  those  that  have 
o-one  to  Pennsylvania  hear  this,  they  will  soon  come 
home.  I  also  hope  that  the  Elector  pleases  you  ;  it 
is  certain  that  had  I  hail  the  happiness  to  be  a 
man,  and  been  Elector,  I  should  have  given  you 


i 


MOTHER   OF  PHILIPPE  D' ORLEANS.     171 

full  satisfaction,  and  my  subjects  also I  live 

a  very  forsaken  life  here ;  every  one,  young  and  old, 
runs  after  favourites.  Madame  de  Maintenon  can- 
not hear  me;  the  Duchesse  de  Bourgogne  only  likes 
what  this  same  lady  likes.  I  have  done  my  best  to 
conciliate  this  mighty  personage,  but  have  failed. 
So  I  am  excluded  from  everything,  and  only  see  the 
King  at  supper.  I  can  no  longer  do  my  will  in 
anything.  I  was  less  tied  during  Monsieur's  life- 
time. I  do  not  dare  sleep  away  from  Versailles 
without  the  King's  permission ;  so  I  can  safely 
wish  tliat  I  was  with  you  in  our  dear  Palatinate. 
But  God  does  not  wish  us  to  be  happy  on  this 
earth.  You  and  Amelia  are  free,  but  in  ill  health  ; 
I  am  tied,  but  quite  well,  thank  God !  You  are 
strangely  mistaken  in  thinking  that  we  hear  no 
complaints ;  night  and  day  we  hear  nothing  else. 
There  is  such  a  famine  that  children  have  eaten  one 
another.  The  King  is  so  determined  to  continue 
the  war  that  he  has  sent  all  his  gold  plate  to  the 
Mint  to  be  melted  down  into  money." 

"Marly,  June  15th,  1709. 

''  Many  hoped  that  peace  would  be  proclaimed, 
but  the  Allies'  terms  were  too  hard  to  be  complied 
with.  Better  perish  than  give  way  to  them ;  I  cannot 
imagine  how  they  can  have  thought  that  our  King 
would  accede  to  them.  As  says  the  proverb,  *  Pride 
goes  before  a  fall,'  so  I  hope  that  my  Lord  Marl- 
borough and  Prince  Eugene  will  receive  their  due. 
The  latter  ought  not  to  forget  that  he  was  boi^n  our 


■nir""iraii^''  .--•-Si-ffraa^!*' 


172 


LIFE   AND    LETTERS   OF  THE 


King  s  subjccf.  I  am  very  displeased  with  him  for 
liaving  put  obstacles  in  the  way  of  peace,  the  more 
so  that  he  did  it  from  self-interested  motives,  not 
for  the  general  good." 

"Marly,  June  22nJ,  1709. 

'^ Peace  is  impossible,  the  terms  are  too  iniquitous. 
It  is  a  wicked  and  pagan  thing  to  wisli  to  force  a 
grandfather  to  fight  against  a  grandson  Avho  has 
always  treated  him  properly  and  obediently.  I  am 
sure  that  God  will  find  some  means  of  punishing 
him  who  suggested  this  evil  idea " 

"  Marly,  June  29th,  1709. 

^'  My  cousin,  de  la  Tremouille,  was  bled  ten  times 
in  so  terrible  a  fashion  that  when  he  was  opened 
they  discovered  that  it  had  caused  his  death ;  he 
had  no  longer  a  drop  of  blood  i:i  his  veins.  Two 
years  ago  the  same  doctor  finished  Mme.  de  la 
Tremouille  in  the  same  manner." 

To  THE  Electress  SorHiA. 

«  Versailles,  July  lltli,  1709. 

'*  The  proverb  which  says,  *  Better  find  yourself 
with  lions  and  dragons  than  with  a  wicked  woman,' 
is  only  too  true.  The  Princesse  des  Ursins,  seeing 
how  popular  my  son  became  with  the  Spaniards, 
got  jealous  of  him,  and  tried  to  do  him  an  injury. 
Last  year  one  of  my  son's  gentlemen- in-waiting 
fell  from  his  horse  and  broke  his  leg.  Still  feeling 
unhealed,  he  begged  my  son  to  allow  him  to  go  to 
Bareges  to  take  the  waters      On  his  way  there  he 


MOTHER    OF  PHILIPPE   D^ORLEANS.     173 

passed  through  Spain.  Hearing  this,  the  Princess 
persuaded  the  King  of  Spain  to  have  him  arrested 
as  a  State  prisoner,  so  as  to  have  my  son  suspected 
of  plotting  against  this  King,  to  whom  he  has 
rendered  such  signal  service.  Imagine  the  utter 
falseness  of  this  woman.  She  writes  a  long  letter 
full  of  protestations  of  friendship  to  me,  at  the  very 
moment  she  is  playing  that  trick  on  my  son. 
Perhaps  I  ought  not  to  recount  such  things  through 
the  post ;  but  my  indignation  is  so  great  that  I 
cannot  keep  silent  about  the  matter " 

To  THE  Raugravine  Louise. 

''  Versailles,  July  27tli,  1709. 

''  Beloved  Louise,  I  am  greatly  troubled  about 
your  health  since  I  have  learnt  your  misfortune. 
But  you  cannot  doubt  as  to  Amelia's  being  in 
Heaven,  good  and  pious  as  she  always  was 

'*  There  is  nothing  fresh  here,  excepting  that  I 
find  myself  placed  in  a  disagreeable  predicament 
owing  to  my  treasurer  having  gone  off  with  over 
a  hundred  thousand  crowns,  leaving  my  people 
and  myself  without  a  farthing.  I  cannot  live  on 
nothing  during  the  time  tliat  they  will  spend  trying 
to  bring  him  to  account,  but  it  has  always  been 
my  fate  to  meet  with  every  kind  of  annoyance. 

''  Songs  and  lampoons  against  the  King  and 
Court  are  still  being  written  and  circulated,  but 
these  things  must  not  be  mentioned  through  the 
post " 


174 


LIFE   AND   LETTERS   OF  THE 


To  THE   ElECTUESS  SoPIIIA. 

"Versailles,  Aug.  12th,  17o9. 

'^  Entering  Paris  by  the  Porte  Saint  Martin,  I 
saw  every  one  running  this  way  and  that,  some  cry- 
ing, '  Oh  !  my  God  ! '  all  having  perturbed  coun- 
tenances. The  windows  were  full  of  people,  there 
were  even  some  on  the  roof  tops.  Down  in  the 
streets  shopmen  were  putting  up  their  shutters,  and 
every  one  was  closing  his  doors.  Even  the  Palais 
Royal  was  shut  up.  I  could  not  imagine  wliat  all 
this  portended,  but  on  entering  the  inner  court, 
and  as  I  was  stepping  out  of  the  coach,  a  citizeness 
with  whom  I  am  acquainted  came  towards  me  and 
said,  '  Are  you  aware,  Madame,  that  there  is  an 
insurrection  here  which  has  lasted  since  four  o'clock 
this  morning  ?  '  I  thought  her  crazy,  and  began 
to  laugh,  but — '  I  am  not  crazy,  Madame,'  said  she. 
'  What  I  tell  you  is  true,  so  true  indeed  that  forty 
people  have  already  been  killed.'  ^  Is  this  really 
so  ? '  I  asked,  turning  to  some  of  my  own  people. 
'  It  is  only  too  true,'  they  answered,  '  and  that  is 
why  we  shut  the  Palais  Royal  gates.'  ....  I  asked 
the  cause  of  this  rising.  This  is  it.  Work  is  going 
on  at  the  Porte  Saint  Martin;  each  workman  is  given 
three  halfpence  and  a  loaf  of  bread;  there  were  two 
thousand  working  there.  But  this  morning  there 
suddenly  arrived  four  thousand  crying  for  bread  and 
work.  As  this  demand  could  not  be  acceded  to,  and  a 
woman  behaved  very  insolently,  they  took  her  and 
shut  her  up.    Then  began  the  tumult ;   six  thousand 


i 


MOTHER    OF  PHILIPPE   D' ORLEANS.     175 

others  joined  the  four  thousand  first,  and  they 
delivered  the  woman.  Many  servants  out  of  place 
joined  the  crowd,  and  cried  out  to  the  others  to 
come  and  pillage ;  so  saying  they  emptied  several 
bakers'  shops.  The  guards  were  called,  and  told  to 
fire  on  the  mob,  but  the  latter  quickly  perceived 
that  this  order  had  only  been  given  to  frighten 
them,  for  the  soldiers'  muskets  were  not  really 
loaded.  '  Let  us  attack  them,'  cried  they,  '  their 
muskets  are  not  loaded.'  Hearing  this,  the  guards 
saw  themselves  obliged  to  &hoot  several.  All  this 
lasted  from  four  to  twelve,  for  at  noon  Marshal 
Boufflers  and  the  Due  de  Grrammont  happened  to 
pass  by  the  place  where  the  tumult  was  greatest. 
They  sot  down  from  their  coach,  harangued  the  mob, 
threw  them  several  handfuls  of  money,  and  declared 
they  would  inform  the  King  that  although  money 
and  bread  had  been  promised,  the  people  had 
received  nothing.  The  insurrection  was  immediately 
calmed;  the  people  threw  their  hats  into  the  air 
exclaiming,  '  Long  live  the  King  and  Bread  !  '  All 
the  same,  the  Parisians  are  good  ^ort  of  people  to 
be  so  easily  calmed ;  although  the  King  is  popular, 
they  hate  Mme.  de  Maintenon.  The  heat  being 
excessive  I  wished  to  obtain  a  breath  of  fresh  air. 
....  On  seeing  me  at  the  window  a  crowd 
assembled  calling  out  blessings  on  my  head,  but 
they  began  saying  such  horrible  things  about  a 
certain  lady  that  I  had  to  withdraw  and  shut  the 
windows.       None  of    my  people  can  show   them- 


«;  IT  it  a  • 


IliSMBdBSil 


wtr"mTm%, 


176  LIFE   AND    LETTERS    OF  THE 

selves,  for  as  soon  as  one  of  them  is  seen  at  a 
window  they  recommence  their  observations,  say- 
ing freely  that  had  they  their  will  she  should  be 
cut  to  pieces  and  burnt  as  a  witch " 

To  THE  Raugravine  Louise. 

''Maulv,  Aug.  31st,  1709. 

'^  You  were  quite  right  in  not  allowing  a  post- 
mortem examination  of  Amelia Since  they 

have  taken   to  opening   everybody  nothing   good 

has    come  of  it In    my    will    I  have   left 

orders  that  I  am  not  to  be  opened " 

"  Versailles,  Sept.  Utli,  1709. 

*'We  lost  a  battle*  near  Mons  four  days  ago. 
There  were  heavy  losses  on  both  sides,  and  nothing 
but  tears  and  despairing  countenances  are  to  be 
seen.  Mme.  Dangean's  son  was  terribly  wounded; 
his  thigh  had  to  be  cut  off ;  they  do  not  know 
whether  he  will  recover.       I    fear   that  Mme.  de 

Degenfelt  also  lost  a  son  that  terrible  day 

The  Landgravine  of  Darmstadt  is  dead,  and  I  do 
not  think  that  the  Dowager  Electress  Palatine 
will  be  long  in  following  her.  They  had  not  an 
ounce  of  sense  between  them 

*'  I  never  knew  such  v/retched  times  as  those 
we  are  having  now.  Would  to  God  that  a  satis- 
factory peace  could  be  arranged  to  put  an  end  to 
this  state  of  things  ! '' 

*  The  battle  of  Malplaquet. 


MOTHER   OF  PHILIPPE  D' ORLEANS.     177 

To  THE  Electress  Sophia. 

"  Versailles,  Sept.  19th,  1709. 

"  Misfortunes  are  here  the  rule ;  one  weeps  for 
a  son,  another  for  a  son-in-law,  a  third  for  a 
father  or  a  nephew.  Every  one  is  lamenting  at 
the  price  of  bread,  which  has  risen  to  fourpence 
a  pound,  and  many  are  dying  of  hunger." 

''Versailles,  Sept.  28th,  1709.    ' 
"As   I   am    sending   you  this  letter  by  private 
hand  instead  of  through  the   post,  I    add    a    few 
songs  which  I  do   not    think    you   can   have   yet 
seen;    I  think    the  last  one  very  wiity.       Every 
one  here  is  in  trouble    through    the   lady.       The 
curious  part  of    the   affair    is    that    she    gives    a 
portion  of  her    profits    to    the    King,  and   to    the 
Duchesse  de  Bourgogno,  to  induce  them  to  approve 
of  her  ways.     Tliis  is  the  reason  why  she  is  so  left 
alone;    in   the  meantime  no  one  is  paid  in  coin, 
only  in   paper   money.       Even    then    one  has   a 
certain  difficulty  to  obtain  money  that  one  ought 
to  receive  immediately,  for   many  pay  with   bills 
only  payable    at  tw^o,  three,  or  even  five  months. 
....  Everywhere  one  sees  people  literally  dying 
of  hunger,  and  all,  from  the  highest  to  the  lowest, 
complain  bitterly  of  the  hard  times " 

"Marly,  Sept.  29th,  1709. 

'*' Among  the  four  doctors  in  attendance  on  Villars, 
no  two  agree  on  the  course  of  treatment  which  ought 
to  be  pursued.  So  the  King  has  sent  his  surgeon, 
Mareshal,  to  Flanders  to  see  what  can  be  done. 

K 


II 


178 


LIFE   AND   LETTERS   OF  THE 


Villars  himself  is  very  anxious,  for  five  years  ago 
everything  which  has  happened  to  him  since  was 
predicted  to  him,  namely,  that  he  would  become 
very  rich,  obtain  the  highest  positions,  become 
Marshal  of  France,  and  be  given  a  dukedom,  but 
that  this  year  he  would  lose  a  battle,  be  wounded, 
and  die.  He  is  always  thinking  of  this,  and  it 
troubles  him  greatly.  It  would  be  indeed  a  pity 
were  so  good  a  man  to  die " 

«  Versailles,  Oct.  17tb,  1709. 

'^Marshal  Boufflers  will  certainly  not  invent  gun- 
powder or  start  a  new  heresy,  and  there  are  many 
wittier  than  he ;  but  he  has  a  good  heart,  and  is  a 
really  honest  and  trustworthy  man  ;  his  word  can 
be  taken  for  anything.  He  does  all  the  good  in 
his  power,  is  fearless  at  Court,  tells  the  King  the 
truth,  and  is  not  a  courtier ;  this  is  why  I  esteem 
him  so  highly 

''  The  French  allow  themselves  to  be  blindly  led 
as  long  as  they  have  confidence  in  their  generals  ; 

the  officers  are  worthy  men  on  the  whole 

The  Czar  *  has  fine  and  great  qualities,  and  his 

actions  provoke  admiration I  fear  that 

the  Czarewitch  is  only  too  much  his  mother's  son ; 
if  that  be  so  the  poor  Princess  of  Wolfenbuttelf 
will  lead  a  very  wretched  life 

^*  It  is  a  good  thing  that  the  Prince  Royal  sprained 

•  Peter  the  Great. 

t  Sophici  Charlotte,  married  to  Alexis,  son  of  Peter  the  Great, 
in  1711,  died  1715. 


MOTHER   OF  PHILIPPE  D^ORLEANS,     179 

his  foot,  for  it  will  prevent  his  going  to  the  siege  of 
Mens.  If  he  had  instantly  plunged  his  foot  into 
iced  water  he  would  have  been  immediately  cured. 
The  dancers  at  the  opera  have  constantly  these  sort 
of  accidents,  and  employ  that  remedy ;  behind  the 
scenes  there  are  always  basins  filled  with  ice  and 
water " 

To  THE  Raugravine  Louise. 

"  Versailles,  Dec.  7th,  1709. 

''  The  all-powerful  lady  has  always  hated  me. 
She  persecuted  me  always,  but  she  does  not  dare 
insult  me  openly,  for  she  believes  me  as  vindictive 

as  herself As  she  is  aware  that  the  King, 

whom  I  love  and  greatly  respect,  has  no  dislike  to 
me,  and  that  we  get  on  well  together,  she  is  afraid 
lest  he  should  attach  himself  rather  to  me  than  to  a 
young  princess  such  as  the  Duchesse  de  Bourgogne. 
This  is  the  reason  why  she  keeps  us  as  much  apart 
as  possible  from  one  another " 

''  Marly,  Dec.  14th,  1709. 

'^  The  Duchesse  d' Orleans  has  presented  us  with 
a  fifth  girl.  I  was  quite  sorry  for  the  poor  baby, 
so  little  was  she  welcomed  by  anybody.  She  is 
to  be  called  Mdlle.  de  Montpensier.  She  is  a  big, 
fine,  healthy  child ;  would  that  it  had  been  a 
boy! " 


n2 


li 


i8o 


LIFE  AND   LETTERS   OF  THE 


a 


CHAPTER  IX. 


1710  TO  1712. 


To  THE  Electress  Sophia. 

"  Versailles,  Jan.  5tli,  1710. 

"  My  son  has  at  last  given  up  his  dark  friend. 
He  will  never  see  her  again.  It  has  cost  him  a 
real  effort^  for  he  still  loves  her,  but  he  had  serious 
reasons  for  breaking  with  her.  Firstly,  she  was 
horribly  self-interested,  never  contented  with  what 
she  got ;  secondly,  she  treated  him  like  a  servant, 
even  kicking  him  at  times ;  again,  she  insisted  on 
his  entire  devotion.  If  her  son  was  not  as  well 
provided  with  clothes  as  the  Due  de  Chartres,  she 
visited  her  anger  on  my  son  ;  she  used  to  take  him 
into  the  worst  company,  and  the  whole  business 
became  a  public  scandal 

"  My  son  did  well  in  acting  energetically,  for  the 
King  had  long  been  annoyed  by  this  matter,  and 
if  my  son's  enemies  had  had  their  will,  the  King 
would  long  ago  have  honoured  the  lady  with  a 
lettre  de  cachet.  This  would  of  course  have  been 
an  affront,  so  all  is  for  the  best " 


MOTHER   OF  PHILIPPE  D'ORLEANS.     i8i 

To  the  Raugravine  Louise. 

"Versailles,  Fob.  15tli,  1710. 

'^  I  fear  that  my  grandson  will  not  be  long-lived, 

for,  although  tall  for  his  years,  he  is  very  delicate. 

Children,  to  my  thinking,  are  better  self-willed  than 

otherwise,  for  it  shows  that  they  are  intelligent.  .  . . 

I  never  gave  a  box  on  the  ear  *  to  my  son,  but  I 

often  gave  him  the  birch  ;  indeed  he  still  remembers 

it  well.     Boxes  on  the  ear  are  dangerous,  for  they 

may  injure  the  head." 

Madame  was  extremely  gratified  by  the  marriage 
of  her  eldest  granddaughter,  Marie  Louise  Elizabeth 
d'Orleans  to  the  Due  de  Berri,  the  Grand  Dauphin's 
second  son.  The  second  child  of  the  Due  d'Orleans 
and  Mdlle.  de  Blois,  the  bride  was  only  fifteen 
years  of  age,  nine  years  younger  than  her  husband. 
This  young  princess  is  said  to  have  greatly  re- 
sembled Madame  in  countenance,  though  not  at  all 
in  character  or  manner,  being  vain,  frivolous,  dissi- 
pated, and  heartless.  She  was,  however,  the  Due 
d'Orleans'  favourite  child,  and  her  marriage  to  the 
future  King's  brother  delighted  her  father  and 
mother,  who  found  in  this  a  link  of  sympathy  with 
Madame. 

To  the  Electress  Sophia. 

"  Marly,  June  5th,  1710. 

"  On  Monday  as  I  advanced  towards  the  King, 
he  said  to  me,  ^  You  seemed  very  gay  yesterday, 

*  Madame  evidently  forgot  the  sovfflet  with  which  she  greeted 
her  son  after  hearing  of  his  intended  marriage. 


I 


i82  LIFE   AND   LETTERS   OF  THE 

Madame.'      'Monsieur/  I  answered,    'no  doubt  T 
seemed  gay,  for  my  son  had  just  spoken  to  me  on 
the  part  of  your  Majesty.'     '  I  am  delighted/  re- 
plied the  King,  '  to  have  pleased  you,  and  I  hope 
that  this  marriage  *  will  unite  us  yet  closer  to  one 
another.'      '  Nothing,'  said  I,  '  could  increase  the 
affection  I  bear  to  your  Majesty  and  to  my  son,  but 
could  anything   increase  it,   tl)is  marriage  would 
certainly  do  so,  for  it  overwhelms  me  with  joy  and 
pride.'     'Your  joy  increases  mine,'  answered   the 
King ;  '  but  do  not  mention  this  matter  for  two  or 
three  days.'     Just  then  some  of  my  ladies  entered 
the  apartment,  so  we  changed  the  subject." 

"  Versailles,  June  8tli,  1710. 

''  Our  King's  countenance  has  strangely  altered, 
but  he  is  still  a  fine  and  imposing-looking  figure, 
and  when  he  speaks  he  is  always  agreeable.  The 
all-powerful  lady  and  her  pupil  have  really  done 
their  best  for  us." 

To  THE  Raugravine  Louise. 

'*  Versailles,  June  7th,  1710. 

"I  have  to  announce  to  you  the  approaching 
marriage  of  my  granddaughter  with  tlie  Due  de 
Berri.  The  King  came  to  my  apartment  last 
Monday  and  told  me  that  he  would  declare  the 
betrothal  public  the  next  day.  I  had  been  informed 
of  the  matter  Sunday,  but  begged  not  to  mention 
it  to  a  soul.  Tuesday  I  went  to  Saint  Cloud  to 
congratulate  the  Princess;    Wednesday  she  came 

»  The  marriage  of  her  gramUIaughter  to  his  grandson. 


MOTHER   OF  PHILIPPE  D'ORLEANS.     183 

to  Marly  ;  her  mother  and  myself  presented  her  to 
the  King,  who,  after  embracing  her,  presented  her 
in  his  turn  to  her  future  husband.  She  will  be 
fifteen  the  20th  of  August,  and  is  already  two 
fingers  taller  than  I  am ;  the  Due  is  exactly  nine 
years  older  than  she  is.  The  necessary  dispensa- 
tions have  been  asked  for  at  Rome,  and  as  soon  as 
they  arrive  the  wedding  will  take  place.  I  must 
own  that  this  marriage  pleases  me  greatly." 

"  Versailles,  July  5th,  1710. 

''  This  time  your  ink  is  really  good  ;  that  manu- 
factured in  Lorraine  is  the  worst.  My  daughter  had 
to  procure  some  from  Paris,  for  I  could  not  de- 
cipher her  letters.     In  Lorraine  all  the  ink  is  like 

water This   evening   at  five   o'clock  the 

marriage  contract   will   be  signed  in   the   King's 
cabinet ;  the  wedding  will  take  place  on  the  11th, 
as  quietly  as  possible,  but  there  will  be  a  reception, 
and  the  King  will  receive  the  whole  of  the  royal 
family  to  supper.     This  marriage  has  been  oddly 
brought  about.     I  cannot  recount  the  thing  to  you 
by  post ;  it  has  taken  place  rather  owing  to  hatred 
than  to  affection,  though  indeed  this  union  is  really 
a  better-assorted  one  than  that  which  the  Land- 
gravine of  Hombourg  has  just  contracted,  for  here 
we  have  a  husband  nine  years  older  than  the  wife, 
and  there  a  wife  older  than  the  husband.     I  was 
told  that  once  at  Metz  an  old  lady  had  presented 
herself  in  the  Huguenot  chapel  to  have  her  mar- 
riage celebrated,  and  the  bridegroom  was  so  youth- 


I 
III 

t 


184 


LIFE  AND   LETTERS   OF  THE 


ful  looking  that  the  minister  asked,  'Do  you  bring 
this  child  to  be  baptized?'  The  Landgravine,  with 
her  eighteen-years-old  bridegroom,  deserved  to  have 
the  same  question  asked  of  her." 

"  Versailles,  Aug.  2nd,  1710. 

**  I  have  received  a  letter  from  Mdlle.  de  Malaux 
announcing  your  niece*s*  death.  I  grieve  with 
you  sincerely.  How  truly  says  the  Lutheran  hymn, 
*  Nothing  is  of  any  avail  against  death,  0  Chris- 
tians !  for  all  is  mortal  on  this  earth."  There  is 
no  place  such  as  England  for  remedies  against 
the  smallpox,  yet  one  dies  of  it  there  as  well  as  in 
other  countries." 

To  THE  Electress  Sophia. 

"  Marly,  Ang.  21st,  I.^IO. 

'^  M.  de  Vendume  came  to  take  leave  of  me 
yesterday.  He  is  going  to  command  the  King's 
army  in  Spain,  but  I  do  not  know  how  he  will 
manage,  for  he  is  lame  and  can  hardly  stand, 
through  gout.  His  wife  will  feel  very  sad,  for  she 
is  said  to  be  very  attached  to  him.  I  think  that 
the  speech  he  made  to  her  at  the  time  of  their 
marriage  must  have  captivated  her.  'Madame,' 
said  he,  ''  I  am  not  gallant,  so  cannot  make  you 
aiiy  fine  compliment ;  all  I  can  tell  you  is  that  as 
you  have  had  the  goodness  to  consent  to  our  mar- 
riage I  will  never  contradict  you  in  anything  ;  you 
shall  always  be  your  own  mistress  and  mine.'  I 
find  this  speech  really  touching " 

*  A  daughter  of  the  Duke  of  Schomberg. 


t 


\ 


\ 


MOTHER   OF  PHILIPPE  D'ORLEANS,     185 

"  Marly,  Sept.  7th,  1710. 

^^  The  Duchesse  de  Berri  comes  often  to  see  me 
because  such  is  the  King's  and  my  son's  desire,  but 
she  does  not  really  care  for  me " 

To  THE  Raugravine  Louise. 

**  Versailles,  Oct.  6th,  1710. 

^^  Hanover  must  have  become  a  smaller  England, 
through  so  many  English  having  settled  there 

^^  I  also,  dear  Louise,  cannot  understand  people 
marrying  again.  Evidently  one  has  either  loved 
or  hated  the  defunct.  Has  one  loved  him  ?  Then 
how  can  one  put  another  in  his  place?  Has  one 
been  unhappy  ?  Then  how  can  one  expose  one's 
self  to  a  renewal  of  one's  wretchedness,  unless  one 
is  dying  of  hunger  and  marries  for  a  piece  of  bread  ? 
Only  in  this  last  case  is  the  thing  admissible.  .  .  ." 

''Marly,  Feb.  5th,  1711. 

''  I  am  grieved  to  learn,  dear  Louise,  that  you 
have  taken  to  coffee ;  nothing  is  so  unhealthy,  and 
I  see  many  here  who  have  had  to  give  it  up 
because  of  the  diseases  it  has  brought  upon  them. 
The  Princess  of  Hanau  died  of  it  in  frightful  suf- 
ferings. After  her  death  they  found  the  coffee 
in  her  stomach,  where  it  had  caused  several  small 
ulcers.  Let  this,  then,  be  a  warning  to  you,  dear 
Louise " 

'*  Versailles,  Feb.  28th,  1711. 

'^I  send  you  a  flacon  of  white  balm.  I  know 
many  ladies  here  who  put  it  on  their  faces.  Mon- 
sieur once  wished  to  try  some  on  mine,  but  I  would 


^.iM— ^aa— aMMJ^irfi  I      fr 


i86 


LIFE   AND   LETTERS   OF  THE 


not  have  it ;  1  prefer  wrinkles  to  having  grease  on 
my  countenance,  I  detest  every  kind  of  shine  lotion 
and  cannot  bear  rouge " 

"  Versailles,  March  18th,  1711. 

"  God  will  punish  the  Elector  for  his  unjust 
conduct  to  you.  I  wish  that  I  had  been  asked 
about  your  silver  plate,  you  would  have  had  it 
restored  to  you.  His  way  of  acting  towards  you 
is  shameful.  I  also  have  lost  everything;  your 
liair  would  rise  up  from  your  head  if  I  could  tell 
you  the  way  I  have  been,  and  still  am,  treated  by 
those  round  me.  But  it  is  useless  to  speak  of  it ; 
besides,  I  should  gain  nothing  by  it,  and  only  be 
thought  fanciful  and  untruthful,  so  curious  would 
the  things  be  I  had  to  relate.  My  wings  have  been 
so  well  clipped,  that  even  were  I  my  own  lord  and 
master  I  could  not  travel " 

'' Marly,  April  IGtli,  1711. 

'^'A  great  misfortune  has  fallen  upon  us.  The 
Dauphin  died  last  Friday  at  eleven  o'clock  at  night, 
just  when  he  was  supposed  by  all  to  be  out  of 
danger.  He  had  a  violent  fever  which  suddenly 
changed  into  smallpox.  The  King  spent  the  even- 
ing with  him,  but  forbade  us  to  come  near 

The  King  is  extremely  moved;  but  shows  great 
firmness  and  submission  to  the  will  of  God.  He 
speaks  to  everybody,  and  orders  everything.  He  is 
consoled  by  the  thought  that  Jfonseigneur  died  in 
a  very  good  state.  His  confessor  assures  us  that  he 
communicated  at  Easter,  and  he  died  with  religious 


i 


MOTHER   OF  PHILIPPE  D'ORLEANS.     187 

sentiments  on  his  lips.  The  King  expresses  him- 
self in  so  Christian  a  manner  that  it  went  to  my 
heart,  and  I  cried  all  yesterday " 

To  THE  Electress  Sophia. 

"Mabi.y,  April  16tl),  1711. 

"Until  Tuesday  morning  hopes  were  entertained 

as  to  the  Dauphin.     The  Parisians,  who  were  very 

fond  of  him,  sent  a  deputation  of  herring-women, 

who  embraced  him,  and  said  that  they  meant  to 

have  the  Te  Detm  sung.  '  Wait  till  I  am  really  well,' 

replied  Monseigneur,  '  it  is  not  yet  time.'     Whilst 

I   was   at  Versailles,  the  whole  of  the  Court    of 

England   came   to  see    me,  leaving  at   eight   for 

Saint  Germains.     At  nine  all  was  going  on  well, 

but  at  ten  they  wrote  to  me  that  the  Dauphin  was 

becoming  anxious,  that  his  face  was  swollen,  and 

that  the  disease*  was  specially  attacking  the  eyes. 

Even  then  no  one  was  alarmed.     I  supped,  and  at 

eleven  undressed  myself,  and  talked  to  Mme.  de 

Clerembault.     Then  I  began  saying  my  prayers. 

As  midnight  struck  I  was  surprised  to  see  Mme.  de 

Clerembault  enter  hurriedly.     '  His  Royal  High- 

ness  the  Dauphin  is  dying ! '  she  exclaimed ;  '  even 

now  the  King  has  left  for  Marly,  and  the  Duchesse 

de  Bourgogne  has  sent  for  her  coach  to  follow  the 

King.'  t     A  moment  after  they  came  and  told  me 

that  the  Dauphin  had  breathed  his  last. 

*  Smallpox.  ,  ,         ii.        I 

t  It  was  the  custom  for  the  royal  family  to  leave  the  palace 
cither  just  before  or  after  the  death  of  a  member  of  tlieir  family. 


i88 


LIFE  AND   LETTERS  OF  THE 


I 


"  You  may  imagine  the  emotion  I  felt  at  this  news. 
I  immediately  sent  for  my  coach  and  hurriedly 
dressed  myself,  then  I  went  to  the  Ducliesse  do 
Bourgogne^s  apartment,  where  I  found  the  Due 
and  Ducliesse  in  a  sad  state.  They  were  utterly 
moved  out  of  themselves,  as  pale  as  death  and 
silent.  The  Due  and  Duchesse  de  Berri  lay  on  the 
floor,  crying  and  lamenting  so  loudly  that  they 
could  be  heard  three  apartments  off.  My  son  and 
Mme.  d'Orleans  wept  silently,  doing  their  Lest  to 
calm  the  Due  and  Duchesse  de  Berri.  All  tlie  ladies 
sat  on  the  floor,  weeping  round  the  Duchesse  de 
Bourgogne.  I  accompanied  the  Due  and  Duchesse 
de   Berri  to  their  apartment;    they  went  to  Led, 

crying  heartily  all  the  time " 

At  seven  I  got  up  and  came  here  (Marly) 

When  I  arrived,  the  King  was  not  yet  visiLle,  so 
I  went  to  Mme.  de  Maintenon's  apartment.  She 
told  me  all  that  had  occurred  the  evening  Lefore. 
'At  ten  o'clock,'  said  she,  ^  there  was  still  hope, 
Lut  at  half-past  ten  things  took  an  evil  turn,  and 
they  sent  for  extreme  unction.  The  King  was  at 
dessert  when  the  news  was  Lrought  him.  You  can 
easily  figure  his  grief  to  yourself.  He  wished  to  go 
to  the  Dauphin,  Lut  we  dissuaded  him,  saying  that 
he  would  only  arrive  in  time  to  see  him  Lreathe  his 
last ;  thereupon  he  had  his  coach  fetched  and  de- 
parted  " 

"Marly,  May  9lh,  1711. 

"  It  is  indeed  true  that  the  King  has  every  reason 


MOTHER   OF  PHILIPPE  D^ORLEANS.     189 

for  regretting  the  Dauphin's  death.     He  was  a  very 
good  son,  full  of  filial  respect,  oLedience,  and  love. 

This  was  the  Lest  side  of  him 

^^  The  present  Dauphin  and  myself  are  not  great 
friends,  Lut  he  is  always  courteous,  which  is  all  I 
ask.  He  is  more  deformed  than  really  ugly,  for 
his  features  are  not  Lad,  although  he  is  lame  and 
liunchLacked.  He  has  fine  intelligent  eyes.  He  is 
somewhat  Ligoted,  Lut  does  not  preach.  All  our 
three  Princes  are  attached  to  their  wives " 

Saint  Simon  gives  a  graphic  picture  of  the 
Dauphin's  death,  and  of  the  mixture  of  feelings 
with  which  it  was  regarded  Ly  the  Court,  who  hailed 
with  joy  the  accession  of  the  young  Due  de  Bour- 
gogne to  the  title  and  dignity  of  Dauphin.  Speak- 
ing of  Madame's  conduct  on  hearing  the  news  he 
says,  ^  Madame,  who  had  redressed  herself,  arrived, 
crying  Litterly.  She  emLraced  everyLody  warmly, 
evidently  hardly  aware  of  what  she  was  doing, 
the  palace  was  filled  with  the  sound  of  her 
screams.  .  .  .  .* 

Mme.  de  Maintenon  was  suspected  Ly  the  popu- 
lace of  having  contriLuted  to  the  Grand  Dauphin's 
sudden  death,  and  the  following  lines  were  written 
on  the  event. 

"  Cl-git  le  Sire  <ie  Meudon,* 
Qui  vecut  sans  ambition, 
Et  mourut  sans  confession, 
Depeclie  par  la  Maintenon." 

*  The  Dauphin's  country  house. 


I 


190 


LIFE  AND   LETTERS   OF  THE 


''Marly,  June  11th,  1711. 

*^  There  is  perpetual  war  between  the  Jesuits  and 
Jansenists,  but  the  Jesuits  are  upheld  by  the  King, 
which  strengtliens  them  very  much.  They  torment 
tlie  others  in  every  possible  way ;  and  here  one 
cannot  get  on  better  than  by  taking  part  against 
them.  As  for  myself  I  am  sorry  for  all  good  people 
who  are  in  misfortune.  Althougli  I  have  many 
personal  friends  among  the  Jesuits  I  must  own  that 
tlie  Jansenists  live  in  a  Christian  fashion,  and  do 
not  deserve  to  be  persecuted ;  it  grieves  me  also  to 
see  those  belonging  to  the  same  faith  treat  each 
other  as  enemies " 

''Marly,  July  5tli,  1711. 

*'  I  cannot  imagine  why  there  should  be  such  a 
violent  feeling  against  the  Jansenists;  it  has  injured 
many  worthy  people.  M.  de  Cambrai  *  is  not 
accused  of  being  a  Jansenist,  but  of  being  a 
Quietist ;  to  tell  you  tl.e  truth  I  have  always  taken 
him  for  an  lionest  and  intelligent  man.  He  is  very 
ugly  and  has  no  flesh  upon  his  bones.  His  eyes 
are  also  sunk  back  into  his  head,  but  he  converses 
agreeably  and  in  an  interesting  manner.  He 
is  very  polite  and  even  cheerful;  he  laughs 
willingly,  and  likes  conversing  in  a  simple,  un- 
affected manner;  indeed,  I  liked  him  greatly. 
Nothing  is  being  said  about  Mme.  Guyon.  I  never 
saw  her,  but  I  have  been  told  that  she  was  a  charm- 
in  f>*  woman.     M.  de  Cambrai's  disgrace  is  not  attri- 

*  Feneloii,  Archbishop  of  Cambrai. 


MOTHER   OF  PHILIPPE  D^ORLEANS.     191 

buted  at  Court  to  his  religious  opinions,  but  to  his 
having  confirmed  the  King  in  his  hopes  that  to 
keep  one's  marriage  secret  is  no  sin.  I  hear  that 
this  advice  did  not  suit  everybody,  so  the  Mme. 
Guyon  affair  was  taken  up  as  a  pretext '' 

"Marly,  July  20th,  1711. 

'^  I  have  always  understood  that  my  Lord  Marl- 
borough's wife  behaved  with  great  insolence  to 
Queen  Anne.  The  latter  has  therefore  done  well 
to  send  her  away.  What  business  is  it  of  Lord 
Sunderland  whether  the  Queen  is  well  or  badly 
served  by  Mme.  Masson  ?  *  This  same  Sunderland 
is  a  very  dangerous  fellow,  the  more  so  that  from 
his  meek  and  gentle  appearance  one  would  suppose 
him  to  be  without  guile.  He  was  for  a  long  time 
ambassador  here ;  he  gambled  a  great  deal,  and  I 
saw  him  very  often " 

"  FONTAINEBLEAU,  Aug.  12th,  1711. 

"I  assure  you  that  the  Dauphin  deserves  the 
praise  awarded  to  him.  Tlie  Dauphiness  is  also 
making  herself  very  popular  owing  to  her  courtesy. 
Last  Monday  they  invited  me  to  dinner;  no  one 
could  liave  behaved  more  suitably  than  they  did 
on  that  occasion;  they  even  waited  on  me  personally. 
A  dozen  duchesses  were  present  and  they  spoke  to 
each  of  them.'' 

"Versailles,  Sept.  30th,  1711. 

"  Mme.  de  Maintenon  looks  considerably  younger 
than  her  age,  although  she  has  become  much  thinner 

*  Mrs.  Masham. 


192 


LIFE  AND   LETTERS   OF  THE 


lately.      I  have  not  seen  her  face  to  face  for  nearly 
six  months " 

"Marly,  Oct.  14tli,  1711. 

^*  Last  Tuesday  I  went  to  see  the  all-powerful 
lady.  She  told  mo  to  send  away  my  ladies.  This 
was  serious ;  my  heart  began  beating,  for  I  thought 
that  she  was  about  to  scold  me.  I  quickly  ex- 
amined my  conscience,  but  could  find  nothing  to 
reproach  myself  with  ;  this  is  wliat  she  said :  the 
King  had  told  my  son  and  liis  wife  to  watch  over 
the  conduct  of  their  daughter;*  ho  had  saidnotliing 
to  me  thinking  that  I  should  do  so  naturally,  but 
hearing  lately  that  I  had  said  nothing  to  her,  he 
had  ordered  Mme.  do  Maintenon  to  tell  me,  from 
him,  that  I  was  to  speak  severely  to  the  young 
woman.  Then  she  told  me  what  I  was  specially  to 
speak  to  lier  about.  'Although  it  will  be  a  painful 
thing,'  I  replied  '  yet  I  will  do  my  best  to  please 
His  Majesty  in  this  matter,  this  will  show  him 
that  I  am  always  ready  to  obey  him  in  all  things, 
but  I  hope  that  His  Majesty  will  inform  the 
Duchesse  de  Berri  that  I  speak  to  her  by  his  desire  ; 
this  will  impress  what  I  say  more  powerfully  upon 
her.'  He  did  so.  That  same  evening  the  father, 
mother,  and  daughter,  came  to  see  me.  I  began 
on  the  matter  in  hand  immediately,  thus,  *My  dear 
child,  you  are  aware  that  I  have  only  scolded  you 
once  since  your  marriage ;  I  had  meant  never  to  do 
so  again,  but  the  King  has  ordered  me  to  speak  to 

*  The  Duchesse  de  Berri. 


^"  "*-*?- 


MOTHER   OF  PHILIPPE  D^ORLEANS.     193 

you,  and  explain  to  you  why  he  did  not  take  you 
to  the  hunt  the  other  day  ;  the  reason  of  it  is  that 
you  have  seriously  displeased  him  by  your  con- 
duct  " 

"Versailles,  Nov.  15th,  1711. 

*^  'I  will  not  speak  to  you,'  said  I  to  the  Duch- 
esse de  Berri,   '  of  the  Lord  God.     I  leave  that  to 
your  confessor.     I  will  only  remark  that  it  is  very 
bad  taste  in  a  person  of  your  age  to  boast  of  your 
disbelief  in  the  Divinity.     You  do  not  only  arouse 
God's  anger,  but  cause  men  to   despise  you.     I  do 
not  tell  you  all  this  from  ill-humour  or  from  anger, 
but  only  in  obedience  to  the  King,  and  because,' 
I  added,  smiling,  '  your  father's  kindness  and  your 
mother's  laziness  prevent  their  reproving  you  when 
you  behave  foolishly  by  drinking  over  much,  con- 
tradicting the  King,  ill-treating  your  husband,  or 
making  him  commit  unwise  actions,  and  quarrelling 
Avith  the  Dauphine.' 

''  My  son  often  spoils  the  good  I  have  been  able 
to  effect  with  much  difficulty  and  loss  of  time." 

"  Versailles,  Dec.  5th,  1711. 

''  I  hoar  that  it  is  believed  by  certain  people  that 
Catholics  are  not  yet  allowed  to  read  the  Bible, 
but  in  Paris  the  case  is  quite  otherwise.  When 
I  first  came  to  France,  it  was  not  the  fashion,  but 
now  all  that  is  changed,  every  one  reads  it  now. 
I   do    not    know    to    what    is    due    this    sudden 


change. 


?> 


o 


^9+ 


LIFE  AND   LETTERS   OF  THE 


CHAPTER   X. 


1712  TO  1715. 


"Versailles,  Jan.  14tli,  1712. 
^'  How    annoying    and    tiresome    are   obstinate 
children !  After  having  spent  the  whole  of  Tuesday 
morning  scolding  Mme.   de  Berri,  and  explaining 
to  her  how  to  ask  pardon  of  the  King,  she  ended 
by  answering,  *I  should  haveindeed  a  bad  memory, 
Madame,  if  I  forgot  all  that   you  have  told  me.' 
IVfy  son  exhorted  her  in  a  very  proper  manner,  so 
there  wa^i  every  reason  to  hope  that  all   would  go 
well,  and  that  the  King  would  be  satisfied  with  her. 
Already  on  Monday  lier  mother  had  begged  him  to 
allow  her  daughter  to  come  and  see  him  again,  for 
he  had  forbidden  her,  through  me,  to  appear  in  his 
presence.     My  son  also  interceded  for  her,  but  the 
King  answered  that  he  would  say  nothing  till  he 
had  consulted  me.      That  evening  I  followed  the 
King  into  his  cabinet.     Seeing  him  somewhat  sur- 
prised, I  said  laughing,   ^  I  hope  that  your  Majesty 
will  forgive  my  following  you  into  your  cabinet 
without  being  invited.     I  will  go  away  the  moment 
I  have  finished  what  I  came  to  say My  son 


MOTHER   OF  PHILIPPE  D^ORLEJNS.     195 

and  Mme.  d'Orleans  both  inform  me  that  you  will 
not  receive  the  Duchesse  de  Berri,  nor  allow  her  to 
beg  your  forgiveness  for  having  displeased  you,  till 
I  have  joined  my  entreaties  to  theirs.  This  is  what 
I  have  come  to  do.'  ^  What,  Madame,'  answered 
the  King,  '  Do  you  advise  me  to  already  receive 
Mme.  de  Berri  ? '  'It  is  not  my  place  to  advise 
you,'  I  observed,  laughing,  '  but  I  beg  of  your 
Majesty  to  afford  that  consolation  to  Mme.  de  Berri, 
for  she  has  been  truly  punished.'  '  Your  advice 
is  good,'  replied  he  with  great  courtesy,  '  and  is 
worthy  of  your  good  sense.  I  will  receive  Mme. 
de  Berri  to-morrow  evening;  you  can  tell  her  this, 
or  send  a  message  to  her  to  that  efi*ect.'  I  made 
a  low  courtesy  and  went  towards  the  door.  '  I  will 
not  make  you  a  long  answer,'  I  replied,  '  for  I 
know  that  your  Majesty  is  awaiting  compaii}^, 
otherwise  I  would  thank  your  Majesty  with  suitable 
length  for  your  kindness,'  and  thereupon  I  de- 
parted  " 

"Versailles,  Feb.  11th,  1712. 

''No  one  can  feel  surprised  at  the  hatred  felt  by 
the  Queen  of  England  *  for  the  Duchess  of  Marl- 
borough and  her  husband.  They  have  behaved 
very  insolently  to  her.  Still,  I  think  that  she 
should  overlook  this,  for  the  Duke  did  his  duty  in 
the  battles  and  sieges,  and  I  think  that  victorious 
soldiers  deserve  rewards,  not  punishments.  Unless, 
indeed,  that  the  Queen  has — as  they  believe  here — 

'^  Queen  Anne. 

o2 


196 


LIFE  AND   LETTERS   OF  THE 


positive  proof  that  he  wished  to  unthrone  her  and 
make  himself  Protector,  like  Cromwell.  If  that  is 
really  the  case,  she  has  acted  wisely  in  having  him 
seized  and  thrown  into  jirison,  for  he  is  said  to  be 
already  arrested " 

Madam e's  next  letter  contains  the  news  of  the 
Daupliine's  sudden  death,  immediately  followed  by 
tliat  of  her  husband,  and,  a  month  later,  by  that  of 
their  eldest  child.  As  was  but  natural,  their  death 
was  suspected  to  have  been  caused  by  poison,  ad- 
ministered by  someone  in  their  immediate  entoii- 
rage.  Mme.  de  Maintenon  being  out  of  the  question 
—for  she  had  been  much  attached  to  the  young 
couple— the  Due  d' Orleans  was  suspected,  to  Ma- 
dame's  great  grief  and  indignation,  of  having 
removed  two  out  of  the  three  of  his  obstacles  to 
the  throne. 

''  Marly,  Feb.  12th.  1712. 

"Naught  can  be  relied  upon  in  this  world.  Who 
is  there  in  existence  who  would  not  have  prophesied 
a  long  and  happy  life  to  the  Dauphine  ?  Now  she 
is  no  more.t  Great  Grod,  how  sad  must  be  the 
good  Duchess  of  Savoy !  I  am  indeed  sorry  for 
her,  and  cannot  bear  to  think  of  her  affliction  ;  the 
Dauphin  is  also  much  grieved,  but  he  is  still  young ; 
he  can  re-marry  and  repair  his  loss,  but  that  of  the 
Duchess  of  Savoy  and  of  the  King  is  irremediable. 
The  King  had  brought  her  up  entirely  according 
to  his  own  ideas ;  she  was  his  only  consolation  and 

*  The  Dauphine  died  from  measles. 


MOTHER   OF  PHILIPPE  D'ORLEJNS.     197 

joy,  and  of  so  cheerful  a  nature  that  she  always 
found  means  to  brighten  and  chase  away  his  sad- 
ness. A  hundred  times  a  day  she  would  run  after 
liim,  each  time  enlivening  him  by  some  witty  sally. 
He  will  miss  her  in  all  ways,  so  there  is  nothing 
strange  in  his  great  grief.  .  .  .  /' 


''Marly,  Feb.  18th,  1712. 

''  We  are  again  overwhelmed  l)y  a  terrible  mis- 
fortune. The  good  Dauphin  has  followed  liis  wife ; 
he  died  this  morning  at  half -past  eight.  .  .  .  Tlie 
King  is  in  such  grief  that  I  fear  for  his  health. 
This  is  a  terrible  loss  for  the  whole  kingdom,  for 

he  was  a  virtuous,  just,  and  intelligent  man 

The  King  having  a  bad  cold  was  not  disturbed,  but 
immediately  on  waking  he  learnt  the  awful  news. 
As  soon  as  we  were  told  that  he  knew,  we  hurried 
to  him.  His  condition  was  most  grievous,  for  the 
King  loses  much  in  him,  and  since  his  father's  death 
he  used  to  assist  at  the  councils,  and  the  Minister 
worked  with  him.  He  spared  the  King  when  lie 
could,  w  as  mercif  id,  and  gave  greatly  to  the  poor ; 
he  once  sold  all  his  mother's  jewels  and  g  ive  the 
money  to  some  wounded  officers.  During  his  life 
he  did  all  the  good  he  could  and  harmed  nobody. 

'^  For  the  first  time,  I  believe,  in  the  world's 
history,  a  husband  and  wife  will  be  laid  to  rest 
together  on  the  same  day  !  I  have  been  so  fright- 
ened by  these  late  events  that  I  hardly  know  what 

I  am  saying I  feel  as  though  we  were  all 

going  to  die  one  after  the  other " 


198 


LIFE  AND   LETTERS   OF  THE 


*•  Marly,  Feb.  20tli,  1712. 

^^  Although  not  post  flay  to-day,  I  cannot  resist 
telling  my  troubles  to  my  dearly  beloved  aunt.  It 
was  not  enough  for  me  to  feel  sincerely  grieved  at 
the  Dauphin's  and  Dauphine's  death,  but  there 
must  arrive  something  even  more  painful  and  which 
cuts  me  to  the  heart.  Some  wicked  people  have 
spread  a  rumour  all  over  Paris  that  my  son  poisoned 
the  Daui^hin  and  Dauphine.  Being  sure  of  his 
innocence  I  at  first  thought  this  a  bad  joke,  not 
believing  for  a  moment  that  such  a  thing  could  be 
said  seriously;  but  the  King  has  been  informed  of 
it.  He  sent  for  my  son,  however,  and  assured  him 
with  great  kindness  that  he  attached  no  belief  or 
importance  to  the  report.  But  he  advised  my  son 
to  send,  in  his  own  interest,  his  chemist,  the  poor 
and  learned  Humberg,  to  the  Bastille,  to  clear  him 

of  this  accusation I  am  quite  crazy  with 

trouble Some  think  that  this  is  a  piece  of 

work  arranged  by  Spain ;  if  so,  the  Princesse  des 
Ursins  must  be  a  very  devil  to  revenge  herself  thus 
on  my  son  for  his  harmless  joke " 

*•  Sunday,  Feb.  21st,  10  o'clock. 

'^  I  must  tell  you  the  ending  of  yesterday's  tale. 
My  son  sent  Humberg  to  be  examined  at  the  Bas- 
tille. The  King  forbade  them  to  receive  him  ;  for, 
firstly,  he  does  not  think  my  son  to  be  capable  of 
such  a  wicked  action,  and  secondly  all  the  doctors 
who  assisted  at  the  post-mortem  aver  that  they  saw 
no  trace  of  poison  in  either  body,  only  that  the 


MOTHER   OF  PHILIPPE  D^ORLEJNS.     199 

Dauphine  died  from  the  measles  and  the  Dauphin 

from  close  air  and  grief 

'^  All  the  sciences  interest  my  son;  they  suit  his 
intelligence.     But  when  he  tries  to  play  the  fop  it 
disgusts  everybody ;  the  young  fellows  round  him, 
ay,  his  daughter  herself,  laugh  at  him,  but  he  goes 
on  just  the  same.     He  is  like  the  child  in  the  fairy 
tale  whose  parents  invited  six  fairies  to  his  christen- 
ing; one  gave  him  a  fine  figure,  another  eloquence 
of  speech,  a  third,  knowledge  of  all  the  fine  arts, 
the   fourth,  all  elegant  exercises,  namely,  fencing, 
dancing  and  riding,  the. fifth  that  he  should  becoine 
skilled  in  the  art  of   war,  and  the  sixth,  that  he 
should  exceed  all  others  in  courage.     But  a  seventh 
fairy,  whom   they  had  forgotten  to  invite,  arrived 
and  said,  ^  I  cannot  take  away  any  of  the  gifts  be- 
stowed upon  him  by  my  sisters,  but  I  shall  pursue 
him  all  his  life  with  my  hatred,  and  the  favours  be- 
stowed upon  him  will  avail  him  nothing.     He  will 
walk  in  so  ugly  a  fashion  that  people  will  take  him 
for  a  cripple ;  I  will  cause  his  black  beard  to  grow 
so  quickly   and   twist   his   countenance  into   such 
hideous  grimaces  that  he  will  be  completely  dis- 
figured  ;   I  shall  fill  him  with  dislike  for  elegant 
exercises ;  I  shall  so  arrange  his  existence  that  he 
will  not  find  time  nor  courage  for  perfecting  himself 
in  music,  painting,    and  drawing;  I  shall  inspire 
him  with  a  love  of  solitude  and  a  hatred  of  good 
company.  ,...'" 


200 


LIFE   AND   LETTERS   OF  7HE 


"Versailles,  March  5th,  1712. 

''I  am  filled  with  compassion  for  the  King; 
although  he  tries  to  be  cheerful,  it  is  evident  that 
lie  suffers  secretly.  I  hope  that  God  ^\rill  spare 
him  to  us.  Fears  are  already  entertained  as  to 
my  son's  possible  share  in  a  future  government. 
They  are  doing  everything  to  make  him  unpopular 
in  Paris  and  at  Court.  The  affair  of  the  poisoning, 
I  spoke  to  you  of,  is  being  again  spread  about. 
He  is  accused  of  causing  the  death  of  every  one 
who  dies  at  Court,  even  of  having  poisoned  M.  de 
Seignelay,  who  died  suddenly  lately " 

"Versailles,  March  10th,  1712. 
''Even  you  must  be  seized  with  terror  cm  hearing 
of  our  new  misfortune.  The  doctors  have  been 
again  to  blame,  for  the  little  Dauphin  being  covcrod 
with  the  eruption  (from  measles),  they  bled  him 
and  administered  a  strong  emetic ;  in  the  middle  of 
this  operation  the  poor  child  died.  What  proves 
clearly  that  the  doctors  also  killed  him  is,  that  his 
little  brother,*  though  equally  ill  from  tlie  same 
disease,  was  left  alone  with  the  women,  whilst  the 
nine  doctors  attended  to  the  eldest;  the  women 
attending  to  the  younger  one  left  him  alone,  only 
giving  him  a  biscuit  and  a  little  wine.  Yesterday, 
the  child  being  very  feverish,  they  (the  doctors) 
wished  to  bleed  him,  but  Mme.  de  Ventadour  and 
Mme.  de  Villcfort  opposed  it  strongly  and  absolutely 


MOTHER    OF  PHILIPPE   D^ORLEANS.     201 

forbade  its  being  done.  They  simply  kept  the 
child  warm,  and  so  saved  him,  to  the  doctor's  great 
shame.  If  they  had  had  their  own  way  he  would 
certainly  have  died  also. 

^'  I  shudder  w^hen  telling  you  of  the  spiteful 
wickedness  of  people  here.  Although  neither  my 
son  nor  any  of  his  people  approached  that  child,  it 
is  being  publicly  said  that  he  poisoned  it,  only 
allowing  the  younger  brother  to  live  for  fear  that 
the  King  of  Spain,  who  is  known  to  detest  him, 
should  return  here '' 

"  Versailles,  this  Saturday, 

*' March  the  19th,  1712. 

'*  I  cannot  imagine  why  my  son  is  so  hated  in 
Paris ;  he  has  never  done  any  one  an  injury.  The 
late  Monsieur  and  myself  were  never  disliked, 
neither  am  I  now " 

''  Versailles,  this  Holy  Thursday, 

'' March  21st,  1712. 

"  We  only  talk  of  the  jiast  in  the  sanctuary.* 
War,  peace,  anything  relating  to  the  present,  is 
not  mentioned,  neither  are  the  three  Dauphins  nor 
the  Dauphine,  for  fear  of  saddening  the  King. 
....  Would  to  God  that  nothing  more  serious 
than   recognising  Queen  Anne  and  the  heirs  she 

may  designate  stood  in  the  way  of  peace 

I  believe  that  even  if  Queen  Anne  had  not  chosen 
the  Elector  of  Brunswick  for  her  heir,  he  would 


*  Afterwards  Louis  XV. 


* 


Madame's  nickname  for  the  King's  circle. 


202 


LIFE   AND    LETTERS   OF  THE 


have  been  offered  the  crown  of  England  all  the 


same. 


J? 


'*  Marly,  April  14th,  1712. 

'^  The  King  of  Denmark  is  indeed  behaving  in 
a  ridiculous  manner  in  attempting  to  pose  as  a 
gallant.  T  am  sure  that  he  hardly  knows  how  to 
set  about  it.  I  cannot  think  of  him  in  that  cha- 
racter without  laughing,  for  as  he  is  deathly  pale, 
he  must  look  far  more  like  a  dying  man  than  a 
lover.  One  can  apply  to  him  the  French  proverb, 
^The  dead  are  never  hungry.'  Tlie  King  treats  my 
son  in  a  proper  manner.  This  makes  me  hope  that 
those  lying  tales  made  no  impression  on  his 
Majesty. 

*'  My  son  is  not  naturally  given  to  drinking,  but 
when  he  is  in  bad  company  he  fancies  that  he  ought 
to  be  ^Hail  fellow,  well  met'  with  them;  once 
drunk,  he  completely  loses  his  head,  and  is  quite 
unaware  of  what  he  says  or  does " 

"  Versailles,  May  8tli,  1712. 

'^  I  am  indeed  glad  to  hear  that  Anthony  Hamil- 
ton's manuscript  diverts  you  so  much.  I  felt  sure 
that  you  would  like  it,  so  sent  it  to  you.  But  if 
you  had  known  the  Comto  and  Comtesse  de  Gram- 
mont  as  we  did  here,  you  would  have  been  even 
more  interested.  The  husband  and  wife's  characters 
are  admirably  delineated.  I  also  knew  Matta  and 
little  Germain.  Good  King  James  is  not  badly 
drawn  either,  but  I  think  that  the  writer  is  unfair 
towards  his  uncle  Robert.  .  .  .  ," 


MOTHER   OF  PHILIPPE  D^ORLEANS.     203 

To  THE  Raugravine  Louise. 

"  Marly,  this  Saturday,  June  18th,  1712. 

"  What  Herr  Hassenburg  brought  my  aunt  was, 
the  model  of  a  new  sort  of  parasol,  that  can  be 
carried  about  and  put  up  in  case  a  shower  should 
surprise  one  during  a  walk " 

"Marly,  July  9th,  1712. 

"  My  lady  Kent's  powder  is  an  excellent  thing, 

and  not  by  any  means  to  be  despised An 

evil  wind  must  be  passing  over  Hanover,  which 
causes  everyone  to  feel  ill.  Do  you  not  think 
that  it  may  be  due  to  excess  of  coffee  drinking  ? 
They  say  that  it  is  so  bad  for  the  stomach  and 
chest.  I  fancy  that  the  drops  which  have  done 
you  so  much  good  are  English  ;  they  are  composed 
of  one  grain  of  opium  added  to  the  extract  of  the 
roots  of  two  plants  named  asarum  and  sassafras. 
Nothing  is  so  good  for  chest  complaints " 

"  Fontainebleau,  Sept.  10th,  1712. 

^'  Our  King  of  England  ^  had  hardly  departed 
when  my  Lord  Bolingbroke  arrived  in  Paris.  They 
met  one  another  at  the  opera.  Now  the  poor  young 
King  has  gone  away,  no  one  knows  where  he  is ;  I 
grieve  for  the  Queen  f  from  the  bottom  of  my  heart, 
she  is  inconsolable ;  and  she  certainly  deserved  a 
happier  existence,  for  she  is  the  most  virtuous 
princess  in  the  whole  world.  Our  King  of  Eng- 
land, I   mean   the   true    one,    no    longer    dislikes 


*  The  old  Pretender. 


f  Mary  of  Modena. 


204- 


LIFE  AND   LETTERS   OF  THE 


Protestants,  for  he  has  taken  many  of  them  for  his 
servants " 

To  THE  Electress  SoriiiA. 

'•  Versaille>!,  Oct.  1st,  1712. 

'^  Our  Duehesse  de  Berri  is  wilder  than  ever. 
Yesterday  she  tried  to  be  rude  to  me,  but  I  instantly 
told  her  what  I  thought  of  her  conduct.  She  came 
to  see  me  in  great  state,  gaudily  attired,  and  with 
fourteen  beautiful  diamond  buckles.  She  looked 
very  handsome,  although  two  patches  placed  on  her 
face  did  not  suit  her  at  all.  As  she  advanced 
towards  me  I  said,  *  Madame,  you  are  looking 
very  handsome,  but  you  seem  to  me  to  have  too 
many  patches  for  a  person  of  your  rank.  You  are 
the  first  lady  in  this  country,  and  ought  to  have  a 
more  dignified  demeanour,  and  not  be  covered  with 
patches  like  a  play-actress.'  She  pouted  and  an- 
swered, '  I  know  that  you  do  not  aff'ect  patches, 
and  think  them  ugly,  but  I  think  them  pretty  and 
mean  to  please  myself.'  '  That  is  owing  to  your 
extreme  youth,'  I  observed,  '  for  instead  of  thinking 
to  please  yourself,  you  should  consider  the  King's 
wishes.'  ^Oh!'  said  she  ^  the  King  gets  used  to 
anything  in  time,  and  I  have  made  up  my  mind  to 
trouble  myself  about  nobody,  and  to  care  for  no- 
thing.' *  These  sentiments,'  I  replied,  laughing, 
^  will  take  you  a  long  way.  Listen  to  me,  I  only 
speak  for  your  own  good,  as  your  grandmother, 
and  because  the  King  has  commanded  me  to  do  so. 
Were  it  not  for  this,  I  should  remain  silent.'     '  To 


MOTHER   OF  PHILIPPE  D^ORLEANS.     205 

keep  silence  is  a  good  thing,'  she  answered,  ^  for 
talking  is  of  no  good;  no  one  can  prevent  my  doing 
as  I  like.'  ^  So  much  the  worse  for  you,'  said  I, 
'  but  all  I  hear  you  say  now  comes  from  your  youth 
and  great  inexperience,  so  I  hope  that  you  wdll 
alter  in  time.  Cannot  you  remember  the  late 
Dauphine  saying  that  one  did  not  always  look  at 
life  in  the  same  way,  and  that  she  was  very  sorry 
to  have  been  so  little  reasonable  ? '  'As  for  myself,' 
she  replied,  '  I  see  nothing  to  change,  so  will  alter 
nothing.'  '  It  is  not  enough,'  I  observed,  '  for  you 
to  be  pleased  with  yourself ;  everyone  ought  to  be 
so  too.'  Thereupon  she  got  up.  '  This  is  a  little 
head,'  said  I,  'which  will  cause  you  much  pain.' 
'  What  do  vou  mean?  '  she  asked.  '  You  understand 
what  I  mean,'  I  answered,  '  and  even  if  you  don't, 
experience  will   soon  teach  you.'      After  this  she 

left  me 

''  That  same  evening  I  told  her  father  all  that 
had  passed.  '  Teach  your  daughter,'  I  added,  ^  the 
proper  way  to  speak  to  me.  I  was  patient  this 
time,  but  cannot  promise  to  be  always  so  in  future, 
and  I  shall  certainly  complain  to  the  King  of  the 
way  in  which  she  receives  my  advice.'  My  son, 
frightened  by  this,  begged  me  to  say  nothing,  and 
promised  to  give  her  a  good  scolding." 

To  THE  Raugravine  Louise. 

"Versailles,  Dec.  8tli,  1712. 

"  I  cannot  bear  tea,  coffee,  or  chocolate,  and 
cannot  understand  how  any  one  can  like  that  sort 


206 


LIFE  AND   LETTERS   OF  THE 


of  thing.  I  find  that  tea  tastes  of  liay  and  rotten 
straw,  coffee  of  soot,  and  chocolate  is  too  sweet  and 
soft.  What  I  would  willingly  partake  of  would  be 
a  good  dish  of  Biran  brot,  or  beer  soup ;  these 
things  would  do  no  harm  to  one's  inside " 

"  Versailles,  Dec.  22nd,  1712. 

"My  health  improves  every  day,  and  I  no  longer 
cough  at  night.  I  attribute  this  to  a  certain  drink 
that  they  have  made  me  take  every  night  before 
going  to  bed ;  one  takes  an  egg-yolk  and  boils  it 
in  water  with  sugar  candy ;  then  one  beats  it  till  it 
becomes  as  white  as  milk ;  I  drink  this  up  as  hot 
as  possible " 

To  THE  Electress  Sophia. 

"  Versailles,  Jan.  12t]i,  1713. 

*^  Queen  Anne  must  be  well  aware  in  hor  heart 
of  hearts  that  our  young  King  is  her  brother.  No 
doubt  you  remember  that  many  wrote  that  it  was 
really  so,  from  England,  at  the  time.  Again,  the 
young  King  has  a  strong  family  look.  No  one  ought 
to  doubt  of  his  legitimacy,  and  his  mother  is  too 
good  a  woman  to  have  agreed  to  take  part  in  such 
a  fraud.  She  has  led  the  existence  of  an  angel 
here  for  the  last  twenty-four  years  under  our  eyes. 
I  feel  certain  that  Queen  Anne's  conscience  will 
wake  up  before  her  death,  and  that  she  will  do 
justice  to  her  brother " 

"  Marly,  May  10th,  1713. 

''  Generally  when  one  marries  for  love,  hate 
follows  after  a  short  time  spent  in  each  other's  com- 


MOTHER    OF  PHILIPPE   D'ORLEANS.     207 

pany.  Powder  and  paint  utterly  spoil  the  com- 
plexion, as  my  mother  *  soon  found  out.  I  do  not 
care  what  happens  to  my  complexion.  Had  I  cared 
a  jot  I  should  not  have  hunted  in  all  weathers,  as  I 
have  been  in  the  habit  of  doing  the  last  thirty 
years '* 

The  death  of  the  Due  de  Berri,  which  occurred 
in  the  spring  of  1714,  was  a  great  misfortune  for 
France  and  his  young  wife,  Madam  e's  giddy  grand- 
daughter, who  on  his  death  plunged  into  every 
kind  of  extravagant  folly. 

Shortly  after  this  event  the  Electress  Sophia  died 
very  suddenly  from  an  attack  of  apoplexy  whilst 
walking  in  the  park  of  Amuhausen.  She  was  the 
daughter  of  Elizabeth  Stuart  and  the  King  of 
Bohemia,  and  the  favourite  sister  of  the  Elector 
Karl  Ludwig.  She  died  at  the  age  of  eighty,  on 
the  8th  of  June,  1714,  a  few  months  before  Queen 
Anne.  Madame  felt  her  death  extremely.  Saint 
Simon  says,  '^  This  lady  was  a  very  worthy  prin- 
cess ;  she  had  brought  up  Madame,  who  was  much 
attached  to  her.  She  always  wrote  to  her  twice  a 
week " 

After  the  death  of  the  Electress,  Madame  wrote 
more  frequently,  and  with  greater  confidence,  to  the 
Eaugravine  Louise. 

*  The  only  place  in  Madame's  correspondence  where  her  mother 
is  mentioned. 


4        ' 


2o8  LIFE   AND   LETTERS   OF  THE 

To  THE  Raugravine  Louise. 

*' Marly,  May  10th,  1714. 

'^  Wc  liave  lost  the  poor  Due  de  Berri,  who  was 
only  twenty-seven  years  of  age,  and  so  stout  and 
healthy  that  one  might  have  thought  he  would  live 
to  be  a  hundred " 

*'  Versailles,  May  27tli,  1711. 
*•  In  one  wav  it  is  a  fortunate  thins:  for  me  that 

^  CD 

the  Due  de  Berri  ceased  to  care  for  me  a  long  time 
ago.  otherwise  I  should  have  grieved  too  much.  I 
own  that  at  first  I  was  greatly  moved,  but  after 
having  reflected  that  he  would  probably  have 
laughed  on  hearing  of  my  death,  I  felt  greatly  con- 
soled. 

"Marly,  July  lOtli,  1714. 

"  I  cannot  express  to  you  the  grief  I  have  been 
plunged  in  since  my  aunt's  death,  and  I  also  have 
the  misery  of  being  obliged  to  hide  my  sorrow,  for 
the  King  cannot  bear  to  see  sad  countenances  round 
him.     I  even  have  to  go  out  hunting 

'^Alas!  my  aunt  often  wrote  to  me  that  she 
thought  a  sudden  death  the  best,  and  that  it  must 
be  painful  to  die  in  one's  bed,  having  on  one  side 
the  minister  or  priest,  and  on  the  other  the  doctor, 
who  can  do  nothing  for  you " 

<•' Marly,  July  29tli,  1714. 

^'  I  was  told  privately  yesterday  that  the  King  of 
Spain  wishes  to  re-marry,  and  that  he  has  sent  the 
Cardinal  Acquaviva  from  Rome  to  Parma  to  ask  for 
the  hand  of  tlie  Princess  of  Parma.  I  do  not 
suppose  that  they  will  refuse  it  to  him " 


MOTHER   OF  PHILIPPE  D^ORLEANS.     209 

'«  Versailles,  Aug.  23rd,  1714. 

''  I  went  to  Sainte  Marie  de  Chaillot,  where  our 
Queen  of  England  is  spending  the  summer.  There 
I  learnt  that  Queen  Anne  of  England  was  certainly 
dead,  and  that  our  Elector  of  Brunswick  had  been 
proclaimed  King  of  England,  Scotland,  and  Ireland 
some  hours  after  her  death 

''  It  is  quite  true  that  our  King  of  Spain  is  about 
to  wed  the  Princess  of  Parma,  but  it  is  false  that 
this  marriage  has  been  arranged  without  the  know- 
ledge of  the  Princesse  d'Ursins.  I  think  that  she 
herself  started  this  idea  because  she  had  promised 
several  people  here  that  their  daughters  should  be 
the  new  Queen  of  Spain " 

"  FONTAINEBLEAU,  Sept.  6tb,  1714. 

^'Have  the  goodness  to  thank  the  Princess  oi 
Wales  for  her  kind  remembrance  of  me.  Between 
ourselves  no  one  has  a  good  word  to  say  for  the 
Prince  of  Wales.  All  those  who  have  seen  him  say 
that  his  manners  recall  those  of  the  absurd  marquis 

who  figures  in  most  of  Moliere's  plays He 

is  also  said  to  be  a  trifle  crazy Our  Elector's 

prompt  notification  has  been  taken  here  in  very 
good  part.   He  is  already  styled  King  George.  ..." 

"  FoNTAiNEBLEAU,  Sept.  20th,  1714. 

*^You  seem  to  think  that  I  spend  my  life  in 
amusements  and  gaieties.  To  cure  you  of  this  idea 
I  will  describe  my  life  to  you.  I  get  up  generally 
at  nine  o'clock ;    then  I  say  my  prayers  and  read 


i^i 


210 


LIFE   AND   LETTERS   OF  THE 


M 


three  chapters  of  the  Bible,  one  of  the  Old  Testa- 
ment, one  of  the  New,  and  a  Psalm.     After  this  I 
dress  and  receive  those  who  wish  to  see  me.     At 
eleven  I  enter  my  cabinet,  where  I  write  or  read. 
At   twelve  I  go  to   chapel,  lunching   quite   alone 
afterwards,  which  I  am  far  from  enjoying,  for  I 
think  that  nothing  can  be  worse  than  being  alone 
at  table,  watched  by  a  dozen  servants,  who  stare  all 
the  time,  and  although  I  have  been  here  forty-three 
years,  I  have  not  yet  become  used  to  this  country's 
detestable  cooking.     After  lunch  I  generally  begin 
writing  and  continue  till  the  King's  supper  ;  some- 
times my  ladies  come  and  play  a  game  of  cards 
with  me.     Mme.  d'Orleans,  the  Duchesse  de  Berri, 
and  sometimes  my  son,  come  to  see  me  from  nine 
to  ten.     At  a  quarter  to  eleven  we  go  to  table  and 
await  the  King,  wdio  sometimes  delays  coming  till 
half -past  eleven.    During  supper  no  one  says  a  word ; 
afterwards,  we  pass  into  the  King's  cabinet,  Avliere 
we  stay  during  the  time  that  it  would  take  one  to 
say  an  '  Our  Father.'  ....     Then  the  King  bows 
and  goes  into  his  apartment,  where  we  follow  him ; 
there  the  King  talks  with  us ;    at  half-past  twelve 
he  bids  us  good-night,  and  each  retires  into  his  or 
her  chamber.      I  go  to  bed,  the  Duchesse  begins 
playing ;  sometimes  they  sit  up  playing  in  her  apart- 
ments till  the  next  morning.     When  the  theatre  is 
going  on  I  go  there  from  seven  till  supper.    The 
hunts  always  start  at  one  o'clock.    If  I  go  out  I  get 
up  at  eight  and  go  to  chapel  at  eleven " 


; 


MOTHER   OF  PHILIPPE  D^ORLEANS.     211 

"  FoNTAiNEBLEAU,  22nd  Scpt.  1714. 

^^1  have  seen  Lord  Peterborough  twice.  He  held 
a  singular  kind  of  discourse,  and  is  as  witty  as  the 
devil ;  but  he  is  very  odd,  and  speaks  in  an  extra- 
ordinary fashion. 

"  I  am  really  annoyed  when  I  think  that  that 
old  and  odious  Duchesse  of  Zell  is  still  alive,  whilst 
our  dear  Electress  has  departed  this  life." 

"  Versailles,  Nov.  3rd,  1714. 

'^The  King  of  England*  sent  to  tell  me  by  M. 
]\lartini  that  he  would  write  to  me  as  soon  as  he 
was  settled  in  England.  Yesterday  M.  Prior  brought 
me  a  letter  from  him,  bat  not  written  with  his  own 
hand,  but  by  a  secretary.  I  ought  not  to  feel 
offended  or  surprised,  remembering  how  this  King- 
has  always  treated  me.  He  is  just  the  opposite  of 
his  mother.  But  whatever  happens  I  shall  always 
remember  that  he  is  my  aunt's  son,  and  wish  him 
every  happiness.  I  am  writing  to  him  to-day.  I 
am  so  sorry  for  the  Princess  of  Wales.  I  esteem 
her  greatly,  for  I  find  that  she  has  very  good  and 
lofty  sentiments  ;   rare  things  just  now^" 

"Marly,  Nov.  8th,  1714. 
"  Half-past  six  o'clock. 

•'  I  do  not  believe  that  the  English,  who  are  so 
impatient,  will  put  up  for  any  time  with  a  King 
who  cannot  speak  their  language.  They  say  that 
he  is  only  allowed  to  keep  one  German  servant. 

*'  I  live  as  though  I  were  quite  alone  in  the  world. 


*  George  I. 

p2 


■g^^-J--.    -ISi 


212 


LIFE   AND   LETTERS   OF  THE 


I  shall  never  see  my  daughter  again.  My  son  is 
absorbed  in  his  own  family,  and  only  comes  to  see 
me  when  others  are  by,  or  when  I  have  many  letters 
to  write.  He  comes  then  so  as  to  avoid  seeing  me 
in  private.  But  I  am  resigned  at  this  state  of 
things.  I  allow  him  and  his  family  to  act  according 
to  their  fancy,  and  I  meddle  in  nothing.  I  go  to 
visit  his  wife  and  daughters  as  though  they  were 
foreign  princesses." 

"  Versailles,  Dec.  27tli,  1714. 

''After  dinner  I  walked  about  my  room  for  half- 
an-hour,  and  amused  myself  with  my  pets,  for  I 
have  here  with  me  two  parrots,  a  canary,  and  eight 

little  dogs 

''  No  doubt  your  boat  was  a  yacht.*  I  cannot 
understand  how  any  one  can  make  up  his  mind 
to  venture  on  to  the  sea.  You  must  be  indeed 
courageous  not  to  have  been  frightened.  Who 
would  not  be  sick,  shaken  about  in  such  a  fashion?" 

*  Tlie  Rangravinc  was  returning  to  England  to  be  with  licr 
nieces,  the  Ladies  Schombcrg. 


MOTHER   OF  PHILIPPE  D^ORLEJNS,    213 


CHAPTER  XI. 

1715  TO  1717. 

"Versailles,  this  Friday,  Jan.  14th,  1715. 

^'  I  have  met  many  English  men  and  women  in 
my  life.  They  are  very  different  one  from  the 
other;  some  very  courteous,  others  rude  and  boorisli. 
The  Duchess  of  Shrewsbury,*  as  they  call  lierhere, 
makes  friends  easily.  This  is  why  she  is  intimate 
with  the  Princesse  de  Conti  and  so  many  other 
ladies.     I  am  very  cold  with  people  tliat  I  do  not 

know 

^^From  what  I  have  heard  of  the  air  in  London 
I  do  not  believe  that  I  could  stand  it  for  four-and- 
twenty  hours  without  falling  ill.  They  say  that  it 
smells  of  coal  and  smoke. 

^'  I  think  it  very  rude  of  the  King  of  England  to 
take  no  notice  of  your  presence  in  London.  Even 
were  he  not  related  to  you,  lie  ought  for  his 
mother's  sake  to  seek  you  out  and  try  to  honour 
you ;  but  I  plainly  see  that  this  good  King  cares 
little  for  those  loved  by  his  mother.    What  can  one 

*  Written  in  Madame's  letter,  Schrosburig. 


II 


214 


LIFE  AND   LETTERS   OF  THE 


say?      Everyone  has  his  own   nature,  and    it   is 
certainly  not  at  the  age  of  fifty-four  that  people 

change 

''Dear  Louise,  your  brother-in-law  *=  evidently 
wishes  to  marry  his  daughters  like  the  Seigneur 
Harpagon,  that  is  to  say,  without  a  dowry.  But  to 
do  this  is  not  an  easy  matter  anywhere,  the 
gentlemen  being  more  in  love  with  the  fair  money 
box  than  with  tlie  lovely  ladies  themselves.  I  am 
sorry  for  your  niece's  sake  that  she  is  not  going  to 
settle  in  our  own  dear  country.  A  good  German  is 
worth  all  the  English  put  together " 

"Jan.  lOth,  1715. 

''I  have  just  received  the  sad  news  of  the  Arch- 
bishop of  Cambrai's  f  death,  wliich  occurred  some 
days  ago.  He  is  much  mourned,  and  was  a  sincere 
friend  of  my  son. 

''A  certain  Prince  of  Anhalt  Zeits  brought  me 
several  kind  messages  from  the  Prince  of  Wales, 
but  not  a  word  from  the  King.  Our  Duchesse  of 
Hanover,  now  residing  at  Modena,  is  not  better 
treated  by  him  than  myself.  I  do  not  know  what 
causes  him  to  be  so  discourteous.  But  for  my  not 
being  Protestant  I  should  be  in  his  place,  for  I  was 
far  nearer  the  English  throne  than  himself,  for  it  is 
through  a  member  of  my  family,  his  mother,  that 
he  is  King  of  England. 

''I  beg  of  you,  dear  Louise,  to  thank  the  Prince 

.  *  The  Duke  of  Scbombcrg. 
f  Fenelon  rtied  Jan.  7th,  1715,  at  the  age  of  sixty-four. 


MOTHER   OF  PHILIPPE  D^ ORLEANS.     215 

of  Wales  from  me,  and  tell  him  how  much  obliged 
I  feel  to  him  for  his  kind  thouglit. 

''  Whilst  King  William  was  still  living  and 
Princess  Anne  only  the  next  in  succession,  she 
often  wrote  to  me  through  Lord  Portland ;  but  I 
can  see  that  the  present  King  is  determined  to 
avoid  corresponding  with  me " 


a 


Versailles,  Jan.  25th,  1715. 


^'Thc  weather  has  somewhat  changed,  but  for 
fourteen  days  we  suffered  frightfully  from^  cold. 
Paris  was  entirely  frozen.  No  wood  could  arrive  by 
the  Seine ;  and  the  comical  thing  was  that  people 
sent  one  another  as  New  Year's  presents  little 
bundles  of  wood  instead  of  jewellery,  etc.,  and 
I  assure  you  that  they  were  most  thankfully  ac- 
knowledged  

^'  No  doubt  you  have  read  in  the  gazettes  all  the 
details  of  the  Princesse  d'Ursin's  disgrace.  I  am 
extremely  annoyed  to  hear  that  she  is  coming  here, 
for  die  is  my  son's  greatest  enemy.  The  things  that 
she  has  done  to  him  make  one's  hair  bristle  with 


indignation, 


)> 


"  Versailles,  Feb.  7tb,  1715. 

''  My  Lord  Stairs  gave  me  yesterday  the  B^zoard 
of  Goa  that  the  Princess  of  Wales  was  good  enough 
to  send  me.  I  am  extremely  obliged  to  her,  and 
beg  of  you  to  express  my  gratitude  when  next  you 
see  her.  Few  things  in  this  world  have  touched 
me  as  much  as  this  Princess's  continual  courtesy  to 


■■*■ 


..2.:^ 


rmw 


■^i^W 


2l6 


LIFE   AND   LETTERS   OF  THE 


Jl 


me,  for  although  I  have  not  the  honour  of  being 
personally  acquainted  with  her,  it  shows  me 
the  affection  she  must  have  bc^rne  to  my  aunt. 
As  for  the  Bezoard,  the  Jesuits  make  it  at  Goa. 
My  son  has  many  boxes  filled  with  it,  given  by 
the  Fathers  to  Monsieur.  I  am  surprised  that  they 
accept  anything  coming  from  a  Jesuit,  in  England. 
When  I  told  Lord  Stairs  so,  he  laughed  heartily." 

'*  Versailles,  March  12tli,  1715. 

"  The  Cardinal  de  Bouillon  died  last  week  at 
Eome.  He  is  no  great  loss,  for  he  was  as  false  as 
the  deviJ,  thoroughly  spiteful,  and  led  an  evil  life; 
in  short,  he  was  worth  nothing 

*^  I  pass  on  to  w^liat  you  tell  me  of  your  niece; 
your  trust  in  my  judgment  touches  me  greatly.  I 
must  tell  you  that  the  marriage  you  speak  of  seems 
to  me  highly  suitable,  provided  that  the  gentleman 
has  enough  to  keep  his  wife  in  a  proper  manner  in 
her  own  rank  of  life.  If  that  is  the  case,  and  the 
young  people  love  one  another,  all  will  go  well ; 
but  if  he  is  poor,  give  up  the  idea  altogether ;  for 
as  far  as  I  know,  dear  Louise,  love  is  only  a 
question  of  time ;  afterwards  comes  bitterness  and 
quarrels ;  and  one  gets  a  heap  of  children,  with 
nothing  to  bring  them  up  on.  In  this  case,  instead 
of  a  marriage  uniting  two  lovers,  it  brings  two 
future  enemies  together.  I  have  seen  examples  of 
this,   so  I  think  I  ouglit  to  give  you  this  warn- 


1 


ing. 


J» 


MOTHER   OF  PHILIPPE  D^ORLEANS.     217 

"Versailles,  April  23rcl,  1715. 

''  They  say  here  that  the  Prince  of  Wales  has 
quarrelled  Avith  his  father  to  such  an  extent  that 
tliey  no  longer  speak  to  one  another,  and  that  a 
kind  of  petition  was  presented  to  the  Princess  of 
Wales,  setting  forth  that  as  she  was  pious  and 
good  she  must  be  aware  that  tlie  kingdom  belonged 
rightly  to  him  styled  the  Pretender,  for  that  he  was 
as  surely  the  son  of  James  II.  as  that  her  husband 
was  the  son  of  the  Count  von  Koenigsmark  !  If 
such  a  thing  was  really  said  to  the  worthy  Princess, 
it  was  frio-htfully  insolent 

^andeed  England  is  a  singular  country.  The 
people  there  are  quite  different  from  those  any- 
where else.  There  is  a  Genoese  envoy  here  who 
dislikes  them  so  greatly  tliat  he  declares  that  not 
only  would  he  refuse  to  go  to  England,  but  he 
would  even  dislike  his  portrait  being  there " 

•'  Versailles,  May  3rd,  1715. 

^^  After  dinner,  my  little  grandson  came  to  see 
me.  I  provided  an  amusement  for  him  suitable  to 
his  age.  This  was  a  triumphal  chariot  drawn  by  a 
large  cat,  in  which  sat  a  little  dog  named  Adrienne; 
a  pigeon  was  coachman,  two  others  pages,  and  a 
dog  as  footman  stood  behind.  This  last  is  named 
Piquart,  and  when  Adrienne  gets  out  of  the  chariot, 
he  puts  down  the  step.  The  cat  is  named  Castillo. 
Piquart  also  allows  himself  to  be  harnessed.  I 
have  a  dog  named  Badine  who  knows  all  the  cards, 
and  who  brings  anything  she  is  asked  for.  .  .  . 


.dmnaiaa^mm^mm 


2l8 


LIFE  AND   LETTERS   OF  THE 


^^  England  certainly  owes  much  to  the  Duchess 
of  Portsmouth.*  She  is  the  best  sort  of  woman  I 
have  ever  met.  She  is  very  polite,  and  converses 
agreeably.  During  Monsieur's  lifetime,  we  often 
had  her  at  Saint  Cloud,  so  I  saw  a  good  deal  of 
her.  .  .  .  ." 

''Marly,  July  12th,  1715. 

^^  I  should  bo  very  glad  to  enter  into  correspond- 
ence with  the  Princess  of  Wales,  for  I  am  truly 
attached  to  Her  Royal  Highness;  but  between  our- 
selves, they  are  very  touchy  here  as  to  all  that 
concerns  the  English  Court.  If  there  should  come 
a  change,  I  shall  certainly  write  to  her,  for  all  who 
know  this  Princess  love  her.  She  is  too  good  not 
to  be  beloved  and  honoured  by  all  who  approach 
her.  .  .  ." 

These  letters,  written  by  Madame  to  the  younger 
cousin  she  was  never  destined  to  meet,  show  that 
Caroline  of  Anspach  must  have  taken  a  great 
interest  in  the  Court  and  courtiers  of  Le  Grand 
Monarqiie ;  for  Madame's  letters  to  her  deal  almost 
entirely  with  her  past  life.  It  is,  of  course,  possible 
that  with  age  the  mother  of  the  Regent  learnt  pru- 
dence, and  abstained  from  sending  news  of  what 
went  on  from  day  to  day  in  Paris  to  England,  but 
we  incline  to  the  belief  that  Madame  loved  to  speak 
of  the  good  old  days,  and  that  the  Prnicess  of  Wales 

♦  Louise  do  Kerouaille?,  mistress  of  Charles  H. 


( 


MOTHER  OF  PHILIPPE  D^ORLEANS.     219 

took  pleasure  in  her  elderly  relative's  reminiscences 

of  a  past  age. 

Naturally,  when  her  son  became  Regent,  Madame 
was  enabled  to  write  far  more  freely  and  to  whom 
she  liked,  as  will  be  seen. 

To  THE  Princess  of  Wales. 

"July  28th,  1715. 

"  The  Dauphin  (Louis  XIV's  son)  was  not  want- 
ing in  wit.  He  was  keenly  aware  of  anything  ridi- 
culous in  himself  as  well  as  in  those  round  him, 
and  could  tell  a  good  story  when  he  took  the  trouble, 
but  his  great  laziness  made  him  neglect  everything. 
He  would  have  fjreferred  an  indolent  life  to  all 

the   kingdoms   and  empires   of   the   world 

What  prevented  the  King  acknowledging  old 
Maintenon  as  his  queen,  was  the  good  reason  given 
him  by  the  Archbishop  of  Cambrai,  M.  de  Fenelon, 
against  such  a  step  being  taken.  This  is  why  she 
persecuted  this  good  and  worthy  prelate  to  the  day 
of  his  death " 

To  THE  Eaugravine  Louise. 

"Marly,  Aug.  8th,  1715. 

'«  Once  back  at  Versailles  I  will  have  a  copy 
taken  of  my  portrait  by  Rigaud,  who  made  it  extra- 
ordinarily like  me.  You  will  see,  my  dear  Louise, 
how  old  I  have  grown.  One  must  not  be  surprised 
at  the  Pretender  wishing  to  obtain  a  throne  to 
which  he  has  every  right,  and  from  which  his 
religion  alone  excludes  him.  I  cannot  understand 
why  the  English  hate  him  so.     He  is  one  of  the 


If 


ij^ 


220 


LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF  THE 


best  and  worthiest  personages  ever  created  by  God. 
I  only  wish,  as  I  have  often  said,  that  King  George 
were    Emperor    of  Germany,   and  the   Pretender 


King  of  England, 


>> 


"Versailles,  Aug.  27th,  1715. 

'^  I  am  so  much  troubled,  dear  Louise,  that  I 
hardly  know  what  I  am  saying  or  doing;  yet  I 
must  answer  your  kind  letter  as  well  as  I  am  able. 
I  must  first  tell  you  that  yesterday  we  had  the 
saddest  and  most  touching  sight  that  it  is  possible 
to  conceive.  After  having  prepared  for  deatli  and 
received  the  last  sacraments  the  King  sent  for  the 
Dauphin,  made  him  a  short  discourse,  and  then  gave 
him  his  blessing.  After  this  he  sent  for  me,  tlie 
Duchesse  de  Berri,  and  all  his  other  children  and 
grandchildren.  He  bade  me  adieu  in  so  touching 
and  tender  a  fashion  that  I  wonder  I  did  not  faint 
from  emotion.  He  assured  me  that  he  had  always 
loved  me  more  than  I  had  thought,  and  that  he 
regretted  ever  having  given  me  any  pain.  He  asked 
me  to  think  of  him  sometimes,  adding  that  he  felt 
sure  I  should  do  so,  for  that  I  liad  always  shown 
him  sincere  affection.  Then  he  gave  me  his  blessing, 
and  wished  me  every  happiness  in  my  future  life. 
I  threw  myself  on  my  knees,  kissing  his  hand.  He 
embraced  me  and  turned  towards  the  others,  tellino- 
them  to  remain  united  one  with  the  other.  Think- 
ing that  he  said  this  to  me,  I  answered  that  I  would 
obey  him  as  long  as  I  lived.  He  smiled  and  said, 
*I  do   not  say  this  to   you,    rather   to   the  otlier 


/ 


•  MOTHER  OF  PHILIPPE  D^ORLEJNS.      221 

Princesses,  for  you  do  not  require  such  a  recom- 
mendation.' You  may  imagine  my  feelings  on 
hearing  this. 

^'  The  King  shows  extraordinary  firmness ;  he 
orders  and  settles  everything  as  though  he  was  only 
going  a  journey.  He  has  said  good-bye  to  all  his 
faithful  servants,  recommending  them  to  my  son, 
whom  he  has  appointed  Regent 

^'1  tliink  that  I  shall  be  the  first  to  follow  the 
King  after  his  death.  He  still  lives,  but  has  become 
so  feeble  that  all  hope  is  over.  I  say  that  I  shall 
probably  be  the  first  to  follow  him,  because  of  my 
advanced  age,  and,  also,  because  once  the  King  is 
dead  they  will  take  the  young  King  *  to  Vincennes, 
whilst  we  shall  all  go  to  Paris,  and  the  air  there 
makes  me  ill.  Again,  being  in  deep  mourning,  I 
shall  be  deprived  of  air  and  exercise ;  thus  I  am 
certain  to  fall  ill. 

''It  is  false  that  Mme.  de  Maintenon  is  dead. 
She  is  in  good  health,  and  in  the  King's  chamber, 
where  she  stays  all  day  and  all  night.  .  . 


jj 


"Versailles,  Sept.  6th,  1715. 

''  I  have  found  it  impossible  to  write  to  you 
before,  for  I  have  been  overwhelmed  with  trouble 
and  grief.  The  King  died  last  Sanday,f  at  nine 
o'clock  in  the  morning.  Since  then  I  have  had 
many  visits  to  receive  and  letters  to  send 

'•T  must  tell  you  that  I  have  been  very  pleased 


*  Louis  XV. 


t  Sept.  1st. 


222  LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF  THE 

to  see  that  the  army  and  the  populace  immediately 
recognised  my  son  as  Regent 

''  He  made  a  speech  to  the  Parliament,  which  was 
very  well  received.  The  young  King  is  very  deli- 
cate. The  Ministers  belonging  to  the  last  reign  will 
keep  their  posts,  and  as  they  are  doubtless  as  prying 
as  before  our  letters  will  still  be  opened 

^^  I  am  glad  to  hear  that  King  George  and  the 
Roval  familv  are  in  good  health 

'*My  Lord  Stairs  has  brought  me  the  two  por- 
traits of  the  little  Princesses.  Thank  the  Princess  of 
Wales  from  me  for  her  charming  gifts " 

In  the  preceding  letters  Madame  has  given  as 
touching  and  remarkable  a  description  of  Louis  XIV 
on  his  deathbed,  as  did  any  writer,  then  or  since. 
Saint  Simon  tells  us  of  the  tramp  of  the  courtiers'  feet 
hurrying  away  from  the  dying  King,  and  of  the 
selfish  conduct  of  Mme.  de  Maintenon,  but  Madame 
for  once  saw  the  nobler  and  higher  aspect  of  the 
Grand  Monarque's  death,  his  firmness  and  last  re- 
commendation to  those  around  him  to  agree  and 
sink  their  private  spites  in  favour  of  the  infant,  so 
soon  to  be  proclaimed  Louis  XV. 

The  King's  death  made  a  change  both  for 
the  worse  and  for  the  better  in  Madame's  condi- 
tion. The  King,  although  despotic  and  obstinate 
in  dealing  with  his  brother's  widow,  had  always 
treated  her  with  great  consideration  and  respect. 
In  the  Regent's  Court,  Madame,  thougli  feared  for 


MOTHER  OF  PHILIPPE  D'ORLEANS,      223 

her  power  of  speaking  bluntly  to  those  over  whom 
she  had  any  authority,  was  felt  to  be  a  kill- joy  and 
mar-sport.  Still  the  Regent  tried  to  show  his  mother 
that  he  meant  to  do  her  honour  by  giving  her  a  far 
finer  and  more  important  suite  of  rooms  both  in 
Paris  and  at  Versailles.  The  little  King  was  estab- 
lished for  the  time  being  at  Vincennes,  and  Mme. 
de  Berri  persuaded  Madame  and  her  father  to  lend 
her  Saint  Cloud,  which  was  conveniently  near 
both  to  Paris  and  Versailles. 

To  THE  Raugravine  Louise. 

*' Paris,  Sept.  13tli,  ]715. 

'^  I  am  not  surprised  at  your  having  felt  grieved 
at  the  King's  death,  dear  Louise,  but  far  stranger 
things  than  those  I  wrote  to  you  occurred 

^^  Yesterday  the  young  King  was  taken  to  the 
Parliament  House,  and  the  fact  of  my  son's  Regency 
declared  and  registered ;  so  that  is  settled.  I  feel 
sure  that  my  son  desires  me  to  have  every  comfort, 
and  feel  every  happiness,  but  this  is  impossible  in 
my  present  condition  of  mind  and  body.  .   .  . 

'^  My  son  has  other  things  to  think  about  than  my 
happiness.  He  is  greatly  in  need  of  progress  ;  but 
seems  determined  to  follow  the  late  King's  com- 
mands and  live  on  good  terms  with  his  family.  .  .  . 
I  have  made  up  my  mind  to  keep  out  of  politics 
altogether,  for  France  has,  unfortunately  for  her- 
self, been  governed  by  too  many  women  already ; 
and  I  do  not  wish  my  son  to  be  suspected  of  being 
governed  by  his  mother.     I  hope  that  he  will  take 


i 


224 


LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF  THE 


my  example  to  heart,  and  not  allow  himself  to  be 

led  by  any  woman 

*'Do  not  imagine,  my  dear  Louise,  that  the 
King's  deatli  makes  my  life  any  freer.  I  have  to 
live  in  just  the  same  manner,  for  it  is  \\\q  custom  of 
the  country  to  do  as  I  have  hitherto  done.  .... 
The  King  showed  the  greatest  firmness  to  the  end. 
He  said,  laughing,  to  Mme.  de  Maintenon,  '  I  had 
heard  say  that  it  was  difficult  to  die ;  I  can  assure 
you  that  I  find  it  a  very  easy  matter.'  He  remained 
twenty -four  hours  without  speaking  to  anyone,  only 
murmuring  to  himself,  '  My  God,  have  pity  on  me! ' 
<  Lord,  I  am  ready  to  be  with  thee.'  Then  he  repeated 
in  the  most  devout  manner  the  Pater  Noster,  and 
died  recommending  his  soul  to  God " 

"  Paris,  Sept.  17tli,  1715. 

"  The  Parliament  has  formally  recognised  my 
son's  right  to  the  Regency. 

^^  The  King  had  informed  him  that  he  would 
have  no  reason  to  complain  of  the  terms  of  his  will. 
When  it  was  opened  it  was  found  to  be  entirely  in 
favour  of  the  Due  de  Maine.  It  is  easy  to  guess  to 
whom  we  owe  this.  .  . 


)> 


Madame  here  alludes  to  Mme.  de  Maintenon,  who 
re"-arded  the  Due  du  Maine  as  her  own  child. 
Even  from  Saint  Cyr,  where  she  lived  retired  from 
the  world,  she  continued  to  advise  her  foster  son 
politically  till  her  death. 


^ 


MOTHER  OF  PHILIPPE  D' ORLEANS,       225 

"Paris,  Oct.  15tb,  1715. 

"I  have  just  returned  from  a  walk  in  a  little 
wood  which  goes  by  the  name  of  Bois  de  Boulogne. 
There  is  an  old  castle  there,  built  by  Francis  I., 
called  Madrid,  because  that  monarch  had  it  built 
exactly  like  the  Castle  of  Madrid,  where  he  was 
confined  as  a  prisoner 

''  The  English  are  indeed  wicked  to  plot  against 
a  king  that  they  have  themselves  chosen,  and 
against  so  many  harmless  Germans.  An  English- 
man, Lord  Douglas,  informed  me  that  Harvey  had 
begun  by  denying  everything  till  shown  his  own 
letter;  then  he  killed  himself  in  despair.  Thank 
God  that  the  King  and  Royal  family  escaped  all 

danger !  .  .  .  . 

''  Towards  thelastthe  old  woman  and  the  Ministers 
did  many  things  unknown  to  the  King.  One  can- 
not think  it  strange  that  the  young  King  James 
should  wish  to  regain  his  throne,  but  those  belong- 
ing to  his  party  ought  to  fight  loyally,  and  not 
have  recourse  to  assassination.  I  am  not  surprised 
to  hear  that  the  English  think  it  possible  to  become 
Mahometan,  for  they  easily  adopt  the  queerest 
forms  of  religion.  My  late  aunt  was  very  fond  of 
the  Turks,  and  used  to  say  that  they  were  worthy 
people " 

"  Paris,  Oct.  29tli,  1715. 
'^  There  is  a  rumour  current  this  evening  that 
the  Earl  of  Argyle  has  lost  a  battle  somewhere  in 
Scotland,  and  that  the  rebels  have  obtained  posses- 

Q 


226 


LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF  THE 


slon  of  Bristol.  I  own  that  I  slicuU  be  better 
pleased   to   know   King   George    and    the    Koyal 

family  safe  in    Hanover When    one  has 

attained  the  age  of  sixty-three  years,  one  has 
naturally  one's  religious  opinions  really  settled.  I 
share  Saint  PauVs  belief  that  it  matters  little 
whether  one  is  a  disciple  of  Paul  or  of  Cephas,  so 
that  one  belongs  to  Christ.  I  hope,  with  God's 
help,  to  live  and  die  in  this  persuasion  ! " 

To  THE  Princess  of  Wales. 

*'  Paris,  Nov.  5tli,  1715. 

^^  Mme.  de  Maintenon  has  retired  to  the  establish- 
ment of  Saint  Cyr,  which  she  herself  founded.  She 
was  far  more  than  the  King's  mistress.  She  had 
been  governess  to  Mme.  de  Montespan's  children, 
but  ended  by  becoming  a  most  important  person- 
age. No  devil  in  Hell  can  have  behaved  in  a  more 
wicked  fashion.  Her  ambition  ruined  France.  The 
Fontange*  was  a  worthy  creature.  I  knew  her 
well.  She  had  been  one  of  my  maids-of-honour. 
She  was  beautiful  from  head  to  foot,  but  very 
foolish,  and  wanting  in  judgment " 

To  THE  KaUgravine  Louise. 

"  Paris,  Nov.  14tli,  1715. 

"  I  think  that  many  will  declare  themselves 
against  King  George,  for  the  Chevalier  t  has  gone 
to  Scotland.     I  was  told  this  evening  all  about  his 

*  One  of  Louis  XTV.'s  early  mistresses. 
■f  The  old  Pretender. 


MOTHER  OF  PHILIPPE  D' ORLEANS.       2^7 

flight.      He  was  at   Commeray  hunting  with   the 
Prince  of  Vaudemont.     After  the  hunt  they  sat  at 
table  till  past  midnight.     Going  into  his  chamber 
lie  told  his  friends  that  he  was  very  tired,  and 
asked  to  be  allowed  to  sleep  till  he  woke.     At  two 
o'clock  the  next  day  he  had  not  yet  shown  himself. 
His  servants  were  friglitened  and  entered  into  his 
apartment.     Not  finding  him  there,  they  ran  witli 
the  news  to  the  Prince  de  Vaudemont.     He  pre- 
tended to  know  nothing.     After  an  hour's  useless 
search,  the  Prii^ce  ordered  the  drawbridge  to  be 
lifted,  and  forbade  any  one  leaving  the  Castle  for 
three  days.     Whilst  ail  this  was  going  on  the  Che- 
valier was  making  the  best  of  his  way  to  Brittany. 
Once  there,  he  embarked  in  a  fisherman's  boat,  whicli 
took  him  to  a  Scotch  vessel,  where  he  found  several 
Scotch  noblemen  with  whom  he  reached  Scotland. . . 
"  No  one  knows  how  all  this  will  end.     I  am 
grieved  for  both  rivals.     King  George  is  my  dear 
aunt's  son,  which  endears  him  to  me  as  though  he 
was  my  own  child.     On  the  other  hand,  the  Pre- 
tender  is   related  to  me,  and  is  the  best  man  in 
the  world.    He  and  his  mother  have  always  behaved 
towards  me  in  the  kindest  manner  possible.     So  I 
cannot  wish  any  harm  to  come  to  either  of  these 
two  Princes." 

"  Tuesday,  Jan.  3rd,  1716. 

*^  Thank  God!  Our  young  King  is  in  good 
health.  He  has  not  been  ill  one  single  moment. 
He  is  very  restless,  and  does  not  like  sitting  in  the 

q2 


228 


LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF  THE 


same  position  two  minutes  together.  To  tell  the 
truth  he  Is  a  badly  brought  up  child.  They  allow 
him  his  own  will  In  everything,  for  fear  he  should 

fall  111 I  hope  that  God  will  preserve  us 

from  any  fresh  wars  ! .  .  .  . 

^'Warlike  symptoms  are  showing  themselves 
in  England,  now  that  Scotland  has  acknowledged 
the  Pretender  as  King.  Once  upon  a  time  were 
there  Kings  of  England  and  Kings  of  Scotland  ? 
If  our  King:  Georo:e  would  content  himself  with 
England,  Ireland,  and  his  German  possessions, 
he  would  still  be  a  great  king,  and  might  leave 
Scotland  to  the  other " 

To  THE  Princess  of  Wales. 

"Paris,  Jan.  8tli,  1716. 

"  There  were  never  two  brothers  more  unlike 
than  the  late  King  and  Monsieur;  yet  they  were  sin- 
cerely attached  to  one  another.  The  King  was 
tall,  had  light  brown  hair;  he  was  manly,  and 
handsome.  Monsieur  was  not  unpleasant  looking, 
but  he  was  very  short,  had  jet  black  hair,  thick 
dark  eyebrows,  large  brown  eyes,  a  long  thin  face, 
a  big  nose,  and  a  very  small  mouth,  filled  with  ugly 

teeth The  King  loved  hunting,  going  to  the 

play  and  hearing  music ;  Monsieur  only  cared  for 
large  receptions  and  assemblies.  The  King  was  very 
fond  of  the  ladies ;  I  do  not  believe  that  Monsieur 
was  ever  in  love  in  his  life " 

"  Paris,  Jan.  9th,  1716. 

"  My  son  has   a  very  good  memory,  and  sees 


MOTHER  OF  PHILIPPE  D' ORLEANS.        229 

everything  very  quickly  and  justly.  He  resembles 
neither  his  father  nor  mother.  Monsieur  had  a  long 
face ;  my  son's  is  square.  He  walks  in  the  same 
manner  however,  and  makes  the  same  gestures ;  but 
Monsieur  had  a  small  mouth  and  ugly  teeth,  whilst 
my  son  has  a  large  mouth  and  pretty  teeth." 

To    THE    R  AUG  RAVINE    LoUISE. 

*' Paris,  Jan.  21st,  1710. 

^'  I  do  not  know,  dear  Louise,  what  the  winter  is 
like  in  England,  but  I  have  never  felt  such  cold  in 
my  life  here.  It  is  five  weeks  since  we  have  received 
any  news  from  England.  This  is  not  surprising,  for 
they  say  that  the  sea  is  covered  with  Ice  at  Calais, 
and  that  English  vessels  cannot  leave  Dover.  This 
annoys  me  greatly,  for  I  am  longing  to  hear  how  the 
Pretender's  affairs  are  going  on.  The  Queen  of 
England  was  Indeed  pleased  to  hear  of  her  son's 
reception  in  Scotland.  The  poor  woman  is  not  used 
to  hearing  good  news ;  it  has  taken  away  her  fever. 

^^  You  are  indeed  right  in  observing  that  my  son 
is  just.  He  is  only  too  good;  this  leads  him  on  to  do 
many  foolish  actions.  .  . 


7) 


"  Paris,  Feb.  21st,  1716. 

"  I  have  been  told  that  the  Pope  and  the  King 
of  Spain  have  provided  the  Pretender  with  money. 
My  son  has  given  him  absolutely  nothing.  .  .  . 
The  Pope  gave  him  thirty  thousand  francs,  the 
King  of  Spain  three  hundred  thousand  florins." 


230 


LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF  THE 


To  THE  Princess  of  Wales. 

"  Paris,  Marcli  U)th,  171G. 

^^If  doing  anything  could  have  prevented  my 
son's  marriage,  I  should  have  done  it ;  but  since  it 
has  become  a  fact,  I  have  done  everything  to  con- 
ciliate her." 

*'  Parts,  April  2\u\,  1716. 

^'  My  son  is  no  longer  a  youth  of  twenty.  He  is 
forty-two  years  of  age,  so  the  Parisians  cannot  for- 
give him  for  runnino-  after  the  ladies  and  haunting 
assemblies  and  balls  as  though  he  was  still  a  young 
man,  whilst  he  ought  to  be  occupying  himself  with 
the  affairs  of  State.  When  the  late  King  ascended 
the  throne  all  went  on  so  well  that  he  had  time  to 
amuse  himself,  but  to-day  all  has  changed ;  they 
have  to  work  day  and  night  to  repair  the  harm  the 
King,  or  rather  his  faithless  Ministers,  caused.  .  .  ," 

*' Paris,  April  14tli,  171G. 

"  I  do  not  know  whether  it  is  true  that  Mme.  de 
Maintenon  had  M.  de  Louvois  poisoned,  but  I  have 
heard  that  when  he  was  dying,  her  doctor  was 
heard  to  say,  '  I  deserve  death  for  having  poisoned 
my  master,  M.  de  Louvois,  in  the  hopes  of  be- 
coming the  King's  physician  as  Mme.  de  Maintenon 
has  promised  me  I  shall.'  .  .  .  ." 

<' Paris,  May  1st,  1716. 

^'If  my  father  had  cared  for  me,  as  I  cared  for 
him,  he  could  never  have  sent  me  into  such  a 
dangerous  country.  I  only  came  here  from  obedi- 
ence to  him,  and  quite  against  my  own  desire.    The 


' 


I 


MOTHER  OF  PHHIPPE  D^ ORLEANS.        231 

first  Dauphine  died  quietly,  being  quite  resigned. 
She  was  as  surely  sent  into  the  next  world  as  if  a 
pistol  had  been  fired  at  her " 

''  Paris,  May  9th,  1710. 

'^Long  before  his  death  the  King  became  really 
converted,  and  gave  up  all  his  gallantries.  He  even 
exiled  the  Duchesse  de  la  Ferte,  because  she  pre- 
tended to  be  wildly  in  love  with  him.  She  used  to 
have  his  portrait,  even  inside  her  coach  when  travel- 
ling, always  before  her  eyes.  The  King  declared 
that  she  made  him  seem  ridiculous,  and  ordered 
her  to  retire  into  her  country-house " 

To  THE  Princess  of  Wales. 

^' Paris,  June  20th,  1716. 

'^  I  once  had  a  French  correspondent  in  Holland 
who  used  to  inform  me  of  the  way  in  which  the 
Prince  of  Orange's  affairs  were  going  on.     Think- 
ino-  that  I  should  be  rendering  the  King  a  service 
by  telling  him  what  I  had  heard,  I  did  so.     The 
Kino-  thanked   me,  but   in  the   morning  he  said, 
laughing,    'My   Ministers   declare   that   you  have 
been  misinformed,  and  that  there  is  not  a  word  of 
truth  in  what  you  told  me.'     I  replied,  ^  Time  will 
show  whether  my  correspondent  or  your  Majesty's 
Ministers   were  in  the   right.      I   only  wished  to 
serve  vou,  Monsieur.'     Some  time  after,  when  King 
William's  presence  in  England  was  an  acknowledged 
fact,  M.  de  Torcy  came  and  told  me  that  I  ought 
always  to  tell  him  of  any  news  I  received.     I  an- 
swered, '  You  told  the  King  that  I  only  received 


232 


LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF  THE 


I 


false  news,  so  I  wrote  to  my  correspondents  to  leave 
off  writing  to  me,  for  I  do  not  care  to  receive  un- 
true tidings.'  He  laughed  in  his  usual  fashion,  and 
said,  *  Your  tidings  turned  out  to  be  quite  true.'  I 
replied,  '  A  great  and  clever  Minister  must  neces- 
sarily hear  more  than  myself.'  Whereupon  the 
King  observed  that  I  was  mocking  his  Ministers. 
I  answered  that  I  was  only  paying  them  back  for 
their  behaviour  to  me. 

^^  M.  de  Louvois  was  the  only  Minister  ever  really 
well  served  by  his  spies ;  but  then  he  never  spared 
his  money.  Every  Frenchman  in  Germany  and 
Holland  was  in  his  pay;  dancing-masters,  servants, 
and  grooms  in  every  small  court.  This  system  was 
allowed  to  drop  after  his  death.  This  is  why  tlie 
present  Ministers  are  so  ignorant  of  what  goes  on 
in  Germany  and  elsewhere " 

"July  2nd,  ITIG. 

*'  Procope's  story  of  Theodora  certainly  recalls 
that  of  the  old  toad.  There  was  also  a  lady  of 
this  description  in  Swedish  history,  a  Dutchwoman 
named  Sigbritte,  who  became  the  wife  of  Christian 
11.^  King  of  Sweden,  Denmark,  and  Norway.  Her 
career  recalled  that  of  the  old  woman  to  such  an 
extent  that  it  quite  struck  me.  I  am  surprised  that 
they  ever  allowed  it  to  be  printed  here.  Happily 
for  the  Abb(5  de  Vertot,  who  compiled  this  history, 
the  King  never  cared  for  reading,  otherwise  the 
poor  Abbe  would  certainly  have  been  sent  to  the 
Bastille.     Many  believed  that  he  had  composed  this 


MOTHER  OF  PHILIPPE  D' ORLEANS,       233 

history  out  of  his  imagination  as  a  joke,  but  he 
earnestly  declares  that  he  really  found  it  in  the 
annals  of  Sweden." 

To  THE  Raugravine  Louise. 

"  July  7tli,  1716. 

"  Just  as  I  was  finishing  my  letter  to  the  Princess 
of  Wales  they  came  and  announced  to  me  that  my 
daughter-in-law  was  far  from  well.  Knowing  what 
to  expect,  I  started  at  eleven  o'clock  in  my  coach. 
At  a  quarter  to  one  I  entered  the  ante-chamber, 
where  someone  met  me,  informing  me  in  a  whisper 
that  Her  Royal  Highness  had  been  happily  brought 
to  bed  about  an  hour  previously.  But  this  was  said 
so  dolefully  that  I  immediately  suspected  what 
indeed  turned  out  to  be  the  truth.  Mme.  d'Orleans 
had  presented  us  with  a  seventh  daughter.  .  .  . 


j> 


"July  12th,  171G. 
^'Myson  is  very  angry  with  my  Lord  Stairs, 
because  he  suspected  this  lord  of  having  injured 
him  in  the  King's  *  estimation,  and  prevented  a 
Franco-Dutch  private  alliance.  My  son  has  been 
reproached  with  allowing  the  Pretender  to  leave 
France ;  but  this  was  not  in  any  way  his  fault.  He 
faithfully  and  loyally  executed  his  part  of  the  treaty, 
that  is  to  say,  to  assist  the  Pretender  in  no  way, 
neither  with  money  nor  arms.  My  son  thinks  that 
the  English  are  unwilling  to  see  their  King  ally 
himself  with  France " 

*  George  I. 


234 


LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF  THE 


To    THE    PniNCESS    OF    WaLES. 


Xi 


July  13th,  1710. 

*'Many  say  licro  tliat  Madame  *  was  not  beautiful, 
but  she  was  so  graceful  that  everything  suited  her. 
She  could  never  forgive  anybody.  She  managed  to 
get  the  Chevalier  de  Lorraine  banished,  but  he  got 
rid  of  her  son.  He  sent  the  poison  from  Italy  by  a 
man  named  Moul,  whom  he  afterwards  appointed 
his  steward 

'^It  is  quite  true  that  Madame  was  poisoned, 
but  without  Monsieur's  knowledge.  Whilst  these 
wretches  were  discussing  poor  Madame's  mode  of 
death,  they  hesitated  as  to  whether  they  should  in- 
form Monsieur,  but  the  Chevalier  de  Lorraine  said, 
*  Do  not  let  us  tell  him ;  he  will  never  hold  his 
tongue.  If  he  says  nothing  the  first  year,  he  will 
surely  hang  us  ten  years  later.'  .... 

^'  They  persuaded  Monsieur  that  the  Dutch  had 
given  Madame  a  slow  poison,  administered  in  her 

chocolate D'EfSat  did  not  put  the  poison 

into  the  chicory  water,  but  into  Madame's  own  cup. 
This  was  intelligently  done,  for  nobody  but  ourselves 
drink  out  of  our  cup.  This  cup  was,  not  found  im- 
mediately, but  was  supposed  to  be  lost,  or  taken 
away  to  be  cleaned.  One  of  Madame's  servants 
(who .  is  dead  now)  told  me  that  very  morning 
whilst  Monsieur  and  Madame  were  at  Mass  he  had 
seen  d'Effiat  come  to  the  sideboard,  take  up  the 
cup,  and  rub  it  with  a  piece  of  paper.     The  servant 

*  Henrietta  of  Encrlancl,  Monsieur's  first  wife. 


MOTHER  OF  PHILIPPE  D'ORLEANS,      235 


said  to  him,  ^  What  arc  you  doing,  Monsieur,  at  our 
side-board,  and  why  do  you  touch  Madame's  own 
cup  ? '  He  answered,  '  I  am  terribly  thirsty,  and 
wish  to  drink.  Seeing  this  cup  dirty  I  began  clean- 
ing  it  with  a  piece  of  paper.'  That  very  evening 
Madame  asked  for  chicory  water.  The  moment  that 
she  had  drunk  it  she  cried  out  that  she  was  poisoned. 
Many  present  had  drunk  of  this  same  water,  but 

not  out  of  her  cup She  was  immediately 

put  to  bed,  and,  becoming  worse  and  worse,  she 
died  two   hours   after  midnight,  in  the   midst   of 


frightful  sufferings. 


J) 


"  July  21st,  1710. 

^'  Monsieur  was  very  jealous  of  his  children.  He 
used  to  try  and  keep  them  away  from  me.  He 
allowed  me  more  authority  over  the  Queen  of 
Sicily  and  my  daughter  than  over  my  son,  but  he 
could  not  prevent  my  telling  the  latter  the  truth  on 
all  occasions 

^'  Monsieur  did  not  care  for  hunting.  Indeed,  ex- 
cepting, perhaps,  when  with  the  army,  he  could 
never  make  up  his  mind  to  ride  on  horseback.  He 
wrote  so  badly  tliat  he  often  brought  me  his  letters 
to  read,  saying,  laughing,  '  Madame,  you  are  used 
to  my  Avriting ;  read  this  to  me  so  that  I  may  know 
what  I  have  written.'  We  often  laughed  over  this 
together." 

"  Saint  Cloud,  Aug.  4th,  1716. 

^^  The  Kini?  was  so  attached  to  all  the  old 
customs  followed  by  the   House   of   France   that 


236 


LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF  THE 


he  would  never  have  anything  changed  in  the 
smallest  particular.  Madame  de  Fiennes  used  to 
say  that  Royal  families  clung  so  to  old  traditions 
that  the  Queen  of  England  died  with  a  toqiiet  on 
her  head ;  that  is  a  little  cap  that  children  wear  in 

bed 

"  When  the  King  desired  a  thing  he  never 
allowed  anything  to  interfere  with  his  wishes. 
What  he  had  ordered  was  to  be  done  immediately, 
and  without  an  observation.  He  was  too  much 
accustomed  to  say  and  feel,  '  This  is  our  good 
pleasure,'  to  suffer  anyone  to  interfere.  This  made 
him  severe  as  to  the  laws  of  etiquette  that  he  had 
established " 

"  Saint  Cloud,  Aug.  12th,  171G. 

^^  The  old  toad  had  but  little  leisure  to  spend  in 
reading,  for  she  had  to  read  private  letters  and 
messages  coming  from  all  parts  of  France,  contain- 
ing special  intelligence.  Sometimes  she  received 
as  many  as  twenty  or  thirty  sheets.  She  only 
showed  them  to  the  King  if  it  suited  her,  and 
according  to  her  love  or  dislike  of  certain  per- 
sons  " 

«  Saint  Cloud,  August  17th,  171G. 

"  The  old  wretch  is  not  wanting  in  cleverness. 
She  speaks  with  great  eloquence  occasionally  ;  she 
could  not  bear  to  be  styled  Marquise^  preferring  by 
far  to  be  addressed  as  Mme.  de  Maintenon 

"  She  showed  the  hatred  she  bore  me  in  a 
thousand  and  one   ways ;    for  instance,  when  the 


MOTHER  OF  PHILIPPE  D^ORLEJNS.        237 

Queen  of  England  came  to  Marly,  and  walked  or 
drove  with  the  King,  the  Princess  of  England,  the 
Dauphine,  and  the  Princesses  went  to  meet  them ; 
I  Avas  the  only  one  never  asked  to  go." 

"  Saint  Cloud,  Aug.  18th,  171 G. 

<^  The   second  Dauphine  was  very  delicate  and 
weakly.      Doctor  Chirac  declared  that  she  would 
get  well  to  the  last,  and  had  they  prevented  her 
rising  and  not  bled  her  in  the  foot  she  would  still 
be  among  us.     Immediately  after  being  bled,  from 
bein""  as  red  as  fire  she  turned  as  pale  as  death. 
When  they  were  lifting  her  out  of  bed  to  bleed  her 
I  cried  out  that  they  ought  to  wait  till  she  was 
cooler.     Chirac  and  Fagon  laughed  at  me,  and  the 
old  toad  said,  'Do  you  imagine   yourself  to  be 
wiser  than  all  these  doctors  ? '    I  answered,  '  No, 
Madame,  but  it  requires  no  great  amount  of  wisdom 
to  know  that  we  ought  to  follow  nature,  and  as  in 
this  case  nature  inclines  to  a  strong  perspiration,  it 
would  be  far  wiser  to  leave  the  patient  alone,  and 
not    force    her    to    get    up.'      She   shrugged   her 
shoulders,  and  smiled  ironically.    I  passed  over  to 
the  other  side  of  the  apartment  and  did  not  inter- 
fere again." 

"  Saint  Cloud,  Sept.  8th,  171G. 

^^The  late  King's  mistresses  injured  him  less 
than  did  the  old  toad  that  he  finally  wedded.  She 
brought  the  most  terrible  misfortunes  on  France. 
She  persecuted  the  Huguenots,  caused  a  famine  by 
raising  the  price  of  corn,  helped  the  Ministers  to 


,1 


238 


LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF  THE 


thwart  tlio  King,  and  finally  caused  his  death  by 
all  the  trouble  slic  gave  him  with  the  Constitution. 
She  made  my  son's  marriage,  and  wished  the  bastards 
to  succeed  their  father ;  in  one  word,  she  ruined 
everything.  .  . 


7> 


'•  Saint  Cloud,  Sept.  22ncl,  1716. 

"  I  will  tell  you  frankly  why  I  prefer  to  remain 
apart.  I  am  noAv  an  old  woman  and  want  rest,  so  I 
do  not  wish  to  bei^rin  what  I  could  never  finish.  I 
never  learnt  to  rule,  and  know  nothing  about  the 
affairs  of  State,  and  I  am  far  too  old  to  begin  study- 
ing such  a  difficult  science I  have  been 

much  exercised  about  it,  but  I  remain  steadfast. 
This  kingdom  has  already  been  far  too  much  led  by 
old  and  young  women.  It  is  time  for  the  men  to 
have  a  word  to  say  in  the  matter.  I  have  therefore 
made  up  my  mind  not  to  interfere  in  anything.  In 
England,  the  w^omen  can  govern,  but  in  France  if 
things  are  to  go  well  the  men  must  have  the  com- 
mand. Where  would  be  the  use  of  my  troubling 
myself  ?  I  only  ask  for  peace  and  rest.  All  my 
old  friends  are  dead ;  so  w^hy  sliould  I  fret  about 
things  that  do  not  concern  me  ?  My  life  is  all  but 
ended.  I  have  just  the  time  to  prepare  myself  for 
death,  and  it  is  difficult  to  keep  a  good  conscience 
in  the  midst  of  public  affairs." 

"  Saint  Cloud,  October  29th,  171 C. 

^'  We  have  had  few  Queens  of  France  really 
happy.    Marie  of  Medicis  died  in  exile,  the  King 


MOTHER  OF  PHILIPPE  D^ORLEJNS.      239 

and  Monsieur's  mother*  was  wretched  during  her 
husband's  lifetime.  Our  Queen, t  Marie  Tlierese, 
said,  on  her  death-bed,  that  she  had  only  had  one 
day  of  happiness  since  she  was  Queen." 

'«  Saint  Cloud,  Nov.  ICth,  1716. 

''  Our  Queen  was  silly,  but  the  best  and  most 
virtuous  woman  in  the  world.  She  always  believed 
all  that  the  King  told  her,  true  and  false.  It  was 
said  that  her  ugly  black  teeth  came  from  her  eating 
too  much  chocolate.  She  was  also  very  fond  of 
garlic.  She  was  stout  and  little  in  height,  with  a 
very  white  skin.  When  neither  w^alking  nor 
dancing  she  looked  tall.  She  eat  frequently,  but 
only  a  little  each  time,  like  a  canary  bird.  She 
retained  many  Spanish  ways  and  notions.  She  was 
extremely  fond  of  gambling,  preferring  bassetfe, 
reversi,  and  Iiomhre^  but  she  could  never  win,  not 
having  been  taught  to  play  properly." 

To  the  Raugravine  Louise. 

"Paris,  Dec.  lltb,  171G. 

"  They  say  here  that  the  Princess  of  Wales  was 
at  the  point  of  death  because  the  English  doctor 
attending  her  would  not  allow  a  German  midwife  to 
approach,  and  that  during  the  discussion  provoked 
by  this  incident  the  Princess's  life  was  all  but  sacri- 
ficed.    Is  this  tale  true  ?...." 

''  Paris,  March  4th,  1717. 

"  The  Queen  of  England  (widow  of  Charles  I.) 


*  Anne  of  Austria. 


t  Maria  Theresa  of  Spain. 


-^     t 


240 


LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF  THE 


was  privately  married  to  her  first  gentle man-in 
waiting.  He  treated  her  very  badly.  Whilst  the 
poor  Queen  had  neither  food  nor  firewood,  he  gave 
great  dinners  in  his  own  apartment.  He  was 
named  my  Lord  Jermyn,  Earl  of  Saint-Albans. 
He  never  threw  the  Queen  a  kind  word " 

"  Paris,  May  Utli,  1717. 

^^  Dearest  Louise,  I  have  received  a  visit  to-day 
from  a  great  personage,  to  wit,  my  hero,  the  Czar.* 
I  think  him  well  bred ;  that  is  to  say,  what  we  used 
to  call  well  bred  :  easy  in  manner,  and  imafFected 
in  conversation.  He  is  also  very  witty.  Although 
speaking  German  in  an  indifferent  manner,  he  is  so 
intelligent  that  it  is  easy  to  understand  his  mean- 
ing. He  is  courteous  to  all,  and  consequently  be- 
loved. T  received  him  in  a  singular  costume.  Not 
being  able  to  wear  stays  I  show  myself  exactly  as  1 
step  out  of  my  bed,  that  is  to  say,  in  my  nightgown 
and  bed- jacket,  and  over  all  a  dressing-gown, 
fastened  with  a  belt." 

During  the  spring  and  summer  of  1717  Madame 
was  so  ill  that  she  found  it  no  longer  possible 
to  write  as  long  letters  as  she  had  been  always 
accustomed  to  do,  and  the  Raugravine  Louise  had 
also  an  illness  about  this  time,  but  Madame  still 
wrote  to  her  occasionally,  complaining  of  the 
frivolity  and  looseness  of  the  Regent's  Court. 
Although    much    that    went    on    was  necessarily 

*  Peter  the  Great. 


MOTHER  OF  PHILIPPE  D'ORLEANS.       241 

hidden  from  her,  she  heard  and  saw  enough  to 
cause  her  sincere  pain.  The  conduct  of  her  eldest 
grand-daughter,  the  Duchesse  de  Berri,  was  far 
from  edifying,  and  Madame  had  reason  to  think 
that  her  daughter-in-law  was  bringing  up  the 
Regent's  other  dauglitcrs  very  badly. 

The  state  of  the  national  finances  was  getting 
worse  every  day.  Saint  Simon  says,  "  It  would 
take  a  vast  knowledge  of  finance  and  a  good 
memory,  and  the  will  to  write  many  volumes  of 
matter  on  the  subject,  to  be  able  to  describe  all  that 
was  attempted,  all  that  failed,  and  all  that  succeeded 
about  this  time." 

When  John  Law,  a  Scottish  adventurer,  appeared 
on  the  scene,  the  Regent  was  at  his  wits'  end,  and 
fears  were  entertained  of  a  national  bankruptcy 
being  inevitable.  Therefore,  when  Law  propounded 
his  famous  scheme  of  the  paper  currency,  the  Regent 
clutched  at  the  planche  de  salut  thus  extended  to 
liinij  eagerly.  Law  obtained  permission  to  estab- 
lisli  a  private  bank,*  the  Government  promising  to 
accept  its  bills.  But  two  years  later  this  bank  was 
dissolved  and  the  Royal  Bank,  with  Law  as  manager, 
began  its  career  with  a  great  flourish  of  trumpets. 

At  this  time  the  interior  of  North  America  was 
all  but  unknown.  The  traveller.  La  Salle,  had 
traversed  huge  tracts  of  country  which  he  had 
appropriated  in  the  name  of  France,  and  styled 
^Louisiana,  after  the  King.     This  country  was  said 

*  1716. 


242 


LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF  THE 


to  be  rich  In  gold  and  silver  mines  and  to  possess  a 
marvellously  rich  and  productive  soil.  Law  obtained 
a  large  grant  of  land,  and  started  the  famous 
Mississippi,  or  West  India,  Company.  The  shares 
were  taken  up  wildly  as  soon  as  Issued,  and  for  a 
time  a  flood  of  commercial  prosperity  and  security 
set  in. 


To  THE  Princess  of  Wales. 

"  Paris,  May  30tli,  1717. 

"  The  marriage  of  the  Bavarian  Elector  to  the 
Princess  of  Poland  clearly  proves  that  no  one  can 
escape  their  destiny,  for  this  Is  a  most  unsuitable 
alliance  for  that  Prince.  I  hear  that  he  was  sent  off 
and  married  without  being  told  anything  about  It. 
His  Ministers  had  been  heavily  bribed,  and  they 
arranged  the  whole  matter  so  promptly  that  It  was 
done,  so  to  speak,  without  his  consent  being  given 
or  asked  for." 

"  Saint  Cloud,  July  2nd,  1717. 

'^When  Cardinal  Mazarin  became  aware  that 
Monsieur  was  more  advanced  In  learning  than  the 
King,  he  gave  orders  to  their  governor  to  allow  the 
former  to  be  idle,  for  he  much  feared  lest  he  should 
become  more  learned  than  his  brother.  ^  What  are 
you  thinking  about,  M.  de  la  Mothe,'  said  he  to  the 
governor;  ^  do  you  Intend  to  make  the  King's 
brother  Into  a  clever  man?  If  he  becomes  so 
mighty  learned  he  will  find  It  hard  later  on  to 
adopt  a  habit  of  implicit  obedience  ' " 


ANOTHER   OF  PHILIPPE  D^ORLEJNS,    243 


"Saint  Cloud,  Sept.  lltli,  1717. 

''  The  King  had  a  better  opinion  of  my  capacity 
than  I  deserved.  He  was  most  anxious  to  appoint 
me  Eegent  with  my  son.  But  thank  God  that  this 
never  came  to  pass,  I  should  soon  have  become 

ci^'^zy The    King    often    said,    'Madame 

cannot  bear  marriages  between  persons  of  un- 
equal rank.  She  finds  them  absurd,'  which  was 
true.  .  . 


j> 


''  Saint  Cloud,  Sept.  28tli,  1717. 

^^  Whoever  bears  a  personal  resemblance  to  Prince 
Eugene  must  be  far  from  liandsome.  He  is  even 
smaller  than  his  eldest  brother.  All  these  brothers, 
with  the  exception  of  Prince  Eugene,  were  not  worth 
much.  Prince  Philip,  also  a  most  strange  person- 
age, was  the  second  brother.  He  was  fair  and 
very  ugly,  and  died  in  Paris  of  smallpox.  A  third 
brother,  who  went  by  the  name  of  the  Chevalier 
de  Savole,  died  from  a  fall  off  his  horse.  Prince 
Eugene  was  the  youngest  of  them  all.  He  had 
two  sisters,  both  ugly ;    one  is  dead,  the  other  is 

still  in  Savoy When  a  young  man.  Prince 

Eugene  was  not  very  ugly;  old  age  had  altered  him 
for  the  worst.  He  never  looked  noble  or  imposing, 
but  his  eyes  were  not  unpleasing." 

To  THE  Raugravine  Louise. 

"  Saint  Cloud,  Sept.  30tli,  1717. 

'^'You  have  doubtless  heard  that  the  Pope  has 
caused  Lord  Peterborough  to  be  arrested  at  Bologna 
m   Italy.      No   one  here  is  aware  of  the  reason. 

r2 


^P-^IP" 


244 


LIFE  AND   LETTERS   OF  THE 


For  four  days  he  walked  about  dressed  in  women's 
clothes.  Altliough  clever  the  poor  man  is  evidently 
crazy.  I  hear  that  he  was  asked  whether  he  had  come 
to  assassinate  the  Chevalier  Saint  George  by  order 
of  the  King  of  England.  '  No/  replied  he,  '  the 
King  would  be  incapable  of  ordering  such  a  thing 
to  be  done.'  He  added,  ^  I  could  not  affirm  the 
same  thing  of  the  Prince  of  Wales.'  .  .  .  ." 

"  Paris,  Oct.  22nd,  1717. 

"  My  son  is  neither  liandsome  nor  plain,  but  he 
is  not  unattractive.  He  is  inconstant,  never  feeling 
an  ardent  affection  for  a  long  time.  On  the  otlier 
hand,  his  manners  are  not  such  as  to  render  him 
beloved.  He  is  very  indiscreet  and  cannot  keep  a 
secret.  I  have  told  him  hundreds  of  times  how 
surprised  I  was  that  all  the  women  ran  after  liim 
as  they  do ;  they  ought  rather  to  fly  from  him.  .  ." 

"  Paris,  Oct.  28tli,  1717. 

*'  Both  in  France  and  England  the  nobles  are 
excessively  haughty,  and  place  themselves  above 
everybody;  a  little  more  they  would  consider  tliem- 
selves  superior  to  the  Princes  of  the  Blood,  yet 
many  among  them  are  not  even  noble.  I  once 
gave  one  of  our  Dukes  a  good  lesson.  He  was 
pushing  past  the  Prince  de  Deux-Ponts  to  seat  him- 
self at  the  King's  table.  I  observed  out  loud,  *  Why 
does  the  Due  de  Saint  Simon  elbow  the  Prince  do 
Deux-Ponts;  is  he  thinking  of  taking  one  of  his 
sons  for  a  page  ?  '     Everyone  burst  out  laughing. 


and  so  he  found  himself  obliged  to  leave. 


MOTHER   OF  PHILIPPE  D^ORLEANS,     245 

Lord  Peterborough  refuses  to  go  out  of  prison  till 
they  have  apologised  for  the  affront  they  made  him. 
If  I  were  in  prison  and  they  suddenly  offered  me 
liberty  I  should  go  off  as  quickly  as  possible,  and 
make  my  remarks  from  a  distance.  This  lord 
is  an  extravagant  and  curious  personage.  He 
would  rather  die  than  not  say  what  he  thinks  of 
other  people,  particularly  his  enemies.  I  hear  that 
he  is  in  love  with  the  Princess  of  Wales,  and  often 
tells  her  so,  but  that  he  detests  the  Prince " 

To  THE  Princess  of  Wales. 

"  Paris,  Oct.  28th,  1717. 

''  I  only  take   milk,  beer,   or  wine  soup,  for   I 

cannot  bear  broth Sausages  and  ham  suit 

my  stomach  best 

"Affection  prevented  my  taking  precedence  of 
the  late  Electress  ;  but  with  the  Duchess  of  Meck- 
lenbourg  and  our  Duchess  of  Hanover  the  case  was 
quite  different.  Neither  would  I  have  passed  before 
Her  Highness  my  mother.  I  would  willingly  have 
even  continued  carrying  her  train,  but  she  would 

not  suffer  it On  great  occasions  Monsieur 

used  to  oblige  me  to  put  on  rouge,  greatly  to  my 
disgust,  for  I  never  cared  for  dress,  and  cannot  bear 
anything  that  puts  me  out  of  my  usual  habits.  .  .  ." 

"Saint  Cloud,  Nov.  5tli,  1717. 

''  The  poor  Princess  (de  Conti)  was  very  badly 
used  by  her  husband.  He  was  jealous  as  the  devil, 
although  there  was  no  sort  of  reason  for  it.  She 
never  really  knew  where  she  would  pass  the  night. 


246 


LIFE   AND   LETTERS   OF  THE 


When  she  was  settled  in  at  Versailles  he  would 
suddenly  take  her  off  to  Paris  or  Chantilly,  tellinn^ 
her  that  she  was  going  to  stay  there  some  time, 
then  the  next  day  back  they  would  go  to  Versailles. 
She  was  never  at  peace  for  two  days  together,  yet 
after  his  death,  instead  of  enjoying  the  change,  she 
often  irritated  me  extremely  by  talking  of  the  happy 
past,  and  grieving  bitterly  for  the  loss  of  him." 

To  THE  Raugravine  Louise. 

"  Saint  Cloud,  Nov.  13th,  1717. 

"  I  wish  that  you  could  learn  to  play  chess.  The 
first  Dauphinc  liad  a  page,  aged  twelve  or  thirteen, 
who  knew  this  game  better  than  the  most  skilled 
players.  M.  le  Prince  once  sent  for  him,  and  began 
a  G-ame  with  him.  believing  that  he  would  obtain  an 
easy  victory.  When  the  boy  checkmated  him,  the 
Prince  went  oft'  into  such  a  transport  of  rage  that 
he  tore  off  his  wig,  and  threw  it  at  the  boy's  head. 

'^I  am  indeed  surprised  to  hear  that  no  account 

has  been  printed  of  the  Elector's  wedding 

Thank  you  for  the  silver  medal  you  sent  me ;  it 
gave  me  great  pleasure.  I  have  Doctor  Luther  in 
gold  and  silver  now.  I  am  convinced  that  Luther 
would  have  done  better  to  reform,  and  not  set  up  a 
new  religion.     He  would  thus  have  done  a  greater 

amount  of  good 

*^I  assure  you  that  my  son  has  more  enemies  than 
friends.  His  brother-in-law  and  the  latter's  wife 
do  everything  in  their  power  to  injure  him  with 
the  people.     AH  Mmc.  de  Montespan's  children  are 


MOTHER   OF  PHILIPPE  D^ORLEJNS,     247 

wicked  reptiles.  The  little  King  is  a  pretty  child 
and  very  intelligent,  but  he  is  spitefully  inclined, 
and  cares  for  no  one  but  his  governess.  He  takes 
sudden  unreasonable  dislikes  to  people,  and  loves 
saying  painfid  and  unpleasant  things.  I  am  not  in 
liis  good  graces,  but  this  troubles  me  little,  for 
when  he  attains  power,  I  shall  have  left  this  world, 
and  shall  no  longer  be  dependent  for  my  comfort 
on  a  King's  caprice. 

^' When  I  warn  my  son  against  these  wicked  people 
he  replies  laughingly,*  ^  You  know,  Madame,  that 
no  one  can  avoid  the  fate  that  God  has  ordained 
for  him  :  so  if  I  am  destined  to  die  I  cannot  avoid 
death,  but  I  will  do  all  that  I  judge  reasonable  to 
ensure  my  safety,  but  nothing  extraordinary.'  My 
son  is  very  learned.  He  has  a  very  good  memory, 
and  exjiresses  himself  well  in  conversation,  but  he 
speaks  remarkably  well  in  public.  Being  but  a 
man  he  has  his  faults ;  but  they  only  injure  himself, 
for  he  is  kindly  and  good  to  all  those  round  him." 

"  Paris,  Nov.  29th,  1717. 

^^  I  suppose  that  great  rejoicings  took  place  all 
over  England  at  the  safe  delivery  of  the  Princess 
of  Wales,  but  the  English  are  so  false  that  I  would 
not  trust  them  with  a  single  hair.     The  Duke  of 


* 


This  is  the  original  text  and  spelling  :   "  Vous  saves  bien, 

madame,  qu'on  ne  peust  evitter  ce  qne-Dieu  vous  a  de  tout  tempg 

destines  ;  ainsi,  si  je  le  suis  a  perir,  je  no  le  pourris  evitter ;    ainsi 

jo  feres  que  ce  qui  est  raisonnabje  pour  ma  conservation,  mais  rien 

d 'extraordinaire." 


i 


248 


LIFE   AND   LETTERS   OF  THE 


Scliomberg  must  be  greatly  annoyed  at  only  having 
one  daughter,  but  being  still  young  lie  may  yet 
have  sons,  and  plenty  of  them.     The  Princess  of 

Wales  has  three  sons  and  three  daughters I 

greatly  pity  the  poor  Saxons  and  their  Queen.  She 
has,  indeed,  had  a  sad  existence.  I  cannot  bear  the 
falseness  of  the  King  of  Poland.  He  acts  without 
any  reference  to  the  solemn  engagements  he  has 
taken.  It  is  far  from  Christian  to  torment  people 
about  religion,  for  when  one  examines  the  thing 
seriously,  one  sees  plainly  that  religion  is  made 
the  pretext  for  ambitious  dealings  and  self-interest. 
Each  serves  Mammon  and  not  the  Lord " 

"Paris,  Dec.  lltli,  1717. 

^^  To  trust  God  implicitly  in  all  circumstances  is 
a  great  comfort.  His  wisdom  is  infinite;  He  alone 
knows  the  reason  of  all  that  happens  to  us.  We 
must  submit  our  Avills  to  His,  and  as  He  gave  his 
only  Son  to  ensure  us  eternal  life  we  ought  to  feel 
content  and  at  peace.  If  He  sends  us  troubles  in 
this  life  it  is  to  prevent  our  being  chastised  for  our 
sins  in  the  next.  This  ought  to  afford  us  great  con- 
solation, for  it  allows  us  to  meet  the  approach  of 
death  without  fear.  Should  He  send  us  happiness, 
why  then  let  us  rejoice  and  thank  Hiir.  for  His 
goodness.  In  this  manner  God  trans  all  that  hap- 
pens to  us  to  our  own  advantage  as  long  as  we  know 

how   to   receive   His   gifts Doctor  Luther 

behaved  as  all  the  clergy  do.     They  all  wish   to 
govern  and  be  the  head.       Had  he  thought  more  of 


MOTHER   OF  PHILIPPE  D^ORLEANS,     249 

the  general  profit  of  Christianity  he  would  not  have 
made  a  schism.  He  and  Calvin  would  have  done 
a  thousand  times  more  good  had  they  simply  taught, 
without  making  such  a  scandal,  and  all  that  was 
foolisli  in  the  Eoman  religion  would  have  quietly 
disappeared  of  itself " 

*' Paris,  Dec.  lOtli,  1717. 

'^  I  do  all  the  good  that  is  in  my  power,  as  the 
enclosed  *  will  show  you." 

"Paris,  Dec.  23ra,  1717. 

''  Lord  Stairs  has  been  very  ill,  but  he  is  now 
better.  His  wife  excited  much  admiration  by  the 
devoted  fashion  in  which  she  nursed  him,  never 
leaving  him  day  or  night.  Your  praise  of  her,  dear 
Louise,  was  indeed  merited.  I  am  so  troubled 
about  our  dear  Princess  of  Wales,  that  I  cried  about 
it  yesterday.  Her  leaving  Saint  James  in  the 
manner  described  to  me  by  the  Countess  of  Bucken- 
burg  is  really  an  unfortunate  thing.  When  her 
little  boys  said  good-bye  to  her  she  fainted  from 
grief.     This  really  moved  me." 

*  This  was  a  letter  addressed  to  Madame  by  thirty  Huguenots, 
thanking  lier  for  interceding  for  tliem  with  tlie  Regent,  who  caused 
them  to  be  released  from  the  prison  where  they  had  been  shut  up 
on  account  of  their  faith. 


t 


4^i^^a»M 


-'■  -^ 


WM 


M^ 


■H 


250 


LIFE  AND   LETTERS   OF  THE 


MOTHER   OF  PHILIPPE  D^ORLEANS.     251 


CHAPTER  XII. 


1718  TO  1719. 


"  Paris,  Jan.  Otli,  1718. 

^*  Writino;  docs  mc  no  liarm.  Were  it  otherwise  I 
should  long  since  liave  died,  for  I  write  every  day. 
A  great  number  of  letters  get  lost  between  England 
and  France.  Four  of  mine  to  the  Princess  of  Wales 
never  reached  her,  so  you  must  not  be  surprised, 
dear  Louise,  not  to  have  received  the  Countess  of 

Buckenburg's  epistle If  our  good  Germans 

were  rich,  they  would  probably  get  as  luxurious 
and  wicked  as  are  the  nations  round  them.  Love 
of  money  and  self-interest  corrupts  everybody 
here.  .  .  ." 

"Paris,  Feb.  3rd,  1718. 

"  The  last  letters  I  received  from  England  were 
dated  the  16th  January,  and  said  that  everything 
was  in  a  sad  state.  They  say  here  that  many  are 
doing  their  best  to  set  the  father  and  son  *  against 
one  another,  in  the  hopes  that  Parliament  w^ill 
appoint  a  Eegent,  This  is  very  possible,  althougli  it 

*  George  I.  and  the  Prince  of  AVales. 


seems  to  me  that  the  King  and  his  son  ought  to  see 
through  this  plan,  and  concert  together  to  avoid  so 
great  a  misfortune.  No  motive  can  be  serious 
enough  to  cause  a  son  to  rebel  against  his  father, 
the  more  so  that  in  this  case  the  latter  is  also  his 
sovereign.  There  was  never  much  love  lost  between 
these  two.  Our  dear  Electress  threw  the  blame  on 
the  son " 

"  Paris,  Feb.  10th,  1718. 

"  Half-past  live  in  the  morning. 

''  I  have  just  been  to  Chelles,  where  I  did  my  best 
to  dissuade  Mademoiselle  *  from  becoming  a  nun. 
But  she  is  quite  firm  in  her  determination.  I  shall 
let  the  thing  take  its  course.  Let  tlie  father  and 
mother  try  to  do  what  they  can  with  her ;  we  shall 
see  if  they  succeed  better  than  I  did  in  persuading 
her  to  alter  her  determination.  All  the  ponds  are 
frozen,  people  are  skating  close  to  the  Bastille. 
....  The  King  of  England  is  really  cruel  to  the 
Princess  of  Wales.  Although  she  has  done  nothing, 
he  has  taken  her  children  away  from  her.  Where 
could  they  be  so  well  and  carefully  brought  up  as 
with  a  virtuous  mother  ? 

"  There  is  not  a  word  of  truth  in  the  report 
circulated  by  the  German  gazettes  a  propos  of  the 
Czar's  granddaughter,  although  it  would  not  be  the 
first  time  that  a  Kussian  Princess  became  Queen  of 
France.  Henri  I.,  many  hundreds  of  years  ago, 
married  the  daughter  of  a  Muscovite  Grandduke, 

*  Mdlle.  d'Orleans,  tlie  Regent's  second  daughter. 


m 


MMftl 


ii^itei^^ttWiiUiiaiiiiiHyaiiijLi^ 


252 


LIFE  AND   LETTERS   OF  THE 


because  the  Pope  had  not  allowed  his  marriage  witli 
a  near  relation  of  his  own." 

•*  Paris,  Feb.  29th,  1718. 

"  8  o'clock  in  the  morning. 

'^  The  Princess  of  Wales  assures  me  tliat  lier 
husband  did  all  tliat  lay  in  his  power  to  conciliate 
the  King's  good  graces ;  that  he  even  begged  his 
pardon,  and  owned  that  he  had  been  to  blame  as 
humbly  as  if  he  had  been  addressing  himself  to 
God  Almighty.  But  the  King  did  not  relent. 
Between  ourselves  I  think  that  avarice  rules  all  his 
actions " 

«  Paris,  March  Gth,  1718. 

"  8  o'clock  in  the  morning. 

'^  The  news  sent  me  from  England  is  no  better. 
The  poor  Princess  is  greatly  to  be  pitied.  There  must 
be  something  else  at  the  bottom  of  all  this,  where 
everything  is  given  a  double  meaning.  They  say 
that  the  King  is  himself  in  love  with  the  Princess. 
I  do  not  believe  this,  for  I  consider  that  the  King 
has  in  noways  a  loverlike  nature.  He  only  loves 
himself.'' 

"  Paris,  March  10th,  1718. 

"  I  see  that  our  Germans  are  beginning  to  adoj)t 
the  English  fashion  of  making  away  with  them- 
selves.    This  is  a  fashion  that  they  might  quite  as 

.well  leave  alone The  Princess  of  Wales 

told  me  the  story  of  a  young  man  that  the  King- 
caused  to  be  killed.  The  lad  was  only  eighteen 
years  of  age,  yet  the  King   is   not   in   the   least 


MOTHER   OF  PHILIPPE  D^ORLEANS.     253 

ashamed  of  what  he  has  done ;  on  the  contrary  ho 
seems  to  think  that  he  did  a  noble  action.  I  fear 
that  this  King  will  come  to  a  bad  end.  His  quarrel 
with  the  Prince  of  Wales  gets  worse  every  day.  I 
always  thought  him  somewhat  harsh  when  he  was 
in  Germany.  English  air  has  hardened  him  even 
more.  At  the  time  of  his  visit  here  I  told  him 
frankly  that  he  was  too  secret  and  reserved  with  his 
fellows.  I  never  saw  him  once  look  amiable.  He 
was  polite,  but  cold  in  manner.  All  here,  v/ise  and 
foolish  alike,  blame  him  much  for  his  conduct  to 
his  only  son " 

''  Paris,  March  24th,  1718. 

''The  Princess  of  Wales  tells  me  that  the  Duchess 
of  Schoresburg  (?)  threw  herself  at  the  King's  feet 
to  beg  for  her  brothers  life.  He  was  condemned  to 
be  hung.  The  King  replied  that  if  he  forgave  him 
he  would  greatly  enrage  all  the  English,  who  would 
say  that  the  man  was  forgiven  because  he  was  a 
foreigner;  that  had  he  been  an  Englishman  he 
would  have  been  certainly  hung.  He  deserves  his 
punishment,  but  still  I  am  very  sorry  for  his  sister. 
Lady  Shrewsbury  talks  continually,  sometimes  say- 
ing strange  things.  She  used  to  say,  'You  can  all 
see  that  my  dear  lord  has  but  one  eye.  The  reason 
of  it  is  that  Providence  felt  unequal  to  creating  two 
as   beautiful.'     Many  laughed  on  hearing  her  say 

this She  pretends  that  she  is  sister  to  the 

King  of  England.  I  do  not  believe  this,  for  she  in 
no  ways  resembles  the  Brunswicks."' 


254 


LIFE   AND   LETTERS   OF  THE 


"Paris,  March  27th,  1718. 

^^  The  Prince  of  Wales  has  acted  in  a  noble 
manner,  and  if  his  father  does  not  acknowledge  it, 
nothing  will  make  peace  between  them.  Some 
people  came  and  begged  him  to  place  himself  at 
the  head  of  their  party.  He  replied  that  nothing 
would  induce  him  to  head  a  party  in  the  State 
against  the  King,  his  father.  You  must  not  be 
surprised  at  an  Englishwoman  behaving  rudely  to 
you,  for  between  ourselves  that  nation  is  worth 
very  little.  The  King  of  England  is  a  bad  fellow. 
He  never  had  any  consideration  for  the  mother  who 
loved  him  so  tenderly ;  yet  without  her  he  would 
never  have  become  King  of  England.  All  her 
children,  even  the  Queen  of  Prussia,  whom  she 
loved  so,  never  treated  her  as  they  ought  to  have 

done 

*'Iam  glad  that  the  Princess  of  Ussingen  has 
got  a  boy.  I  hope  that  the  child  will  resemble  his 
irrandfather  more  than  his  father.  The  grandfather 
was  courteous,  ao^reeable,  and  handsome ;  tlie  father 
Ugly  and  foolish " 

"  Paris,  March  31st,  1718. 

^'Historians  are  greatly  given  to  inventing  and 
lying.  I  have  read  in  the  history  of  my  grand- 
father, the  King  of  Bohemia,*  that  the  Queen  was 

*  Frederick  V.,  Elector  Palatine,  married,  in  IGl 3,  Elizabeth, 
daughter  of  James  I.  He  accepted  the  Crown  of  Bohemia  1019, 
lost  it  1G20,  together  with  the  Palatinate.  After  the  Peace  of 
Westphaha  his  eldest  son,  Charles  Louis,  Madame's  father,  was 
reinstated  in  the  Palatinate, 


MOTHER  OF  PHILIPPE  D^ORLEANS,      255 

so  ambitious  that  she  never  gave  him  a  moment' sf 
rest  till  he  got  himself  proclaimed  King.  There  is 
not  a  word  of  truth  in  all  this.  The  Queen's  whole 
life  was  spent  in  going  to  the  play,  dancing,  and 
reading  romances.  The  King's  maternal  uncle,  the 
Prince  of  Orange,  set  afoot  this  calumny. 

^^It  is  also  said  in  the  history  of  our  late  King 
that  he  left  Holland,  and  consented  to  make  peace, 
through  generosity.  The  real  truth  is  that  Mme. 
de  Montespan,  having  been  brought  to  bed  of  a 
daughter  (who  is  now  Mme.  d'Orleans),  the  King 
wished  to  see  her,  and  so  arranged  to  come  back  to 
Versailles. 

''  The  first  war  with  Holland  is  attributed  to  the 
King's  great  ambition.  Now  I  am  positively  certain 
that  this  war  was  only  begun  because  M.  de  Lionne, 
the  then  Minister,  was  jealous  of  his  wife  and  Prince 
William  of  Furstenberg.  To  make  the  latter  leave 
Paris  he  arranged  the  war.  If  such  lies  are  told  of 
what  happened  comparatively  lately,  witnessed  by 
our  own  selves,  what  must  we  believe  of  things  that 
we  are  told  happened  many  years  ago  ?  I  believe 
that  all  histories,  excepting  the  Holy  Scriptures,  to 
be  as  false  as  any  romance,  the  only  difference  being 
that  the  latter  are  more  diverting. 

''  There  is  nothing  fresh  here.  I  was  told  that  a 
man  here,  before  beating  his  wife,  said  this  prayer, 
'  Oh,  Grod,  render  the  correction  that  I  am  about  to 
administer  to  thy  servant  salutary  to  her,  and  cause 
her  to  be  cured  of  her  naughtiness  1 '  " 


256 


LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF  THE 


"Taris,  April  28tli,171<S. 

''I  received  news  of  the  Princess  of  Wales  yester- 
day. Slie  wrote  a  most  humble  epistle  to  the  King 
of  p]ngland.  He  answered  with  great  harshness  and 
made  remarks  as  to  her  conduct.  He  will  make 
liimsclf  ridiculed  by  everybody  by  acting  thus,  for 
the  Princess  has  an  intact  reputation.  I  cannot 
understand  why  the  King  acts  in  the  manner  ho 
does." 

«' Saint  Cloud,  May  8tL,  1718. 

'•  I  have  to  tell  you  a  sad  piece  of  news.     I  have 
been  crying  all  the  morning  for  the  good  and  pious 
Queen  of  England  *  who  died  yesterday  morning  at 
St.  Germains  about  seven  o'clock.     She  is  assuredly 
in  Heaven,  for  she  gave  all  she  had  to  the  poor. 
Whole  families  were  kept  from  starvation  by  her. 
She  never  spoke  unkindly  of  any  one,  and  if  one 
talked  to   her  of  others  she  always  said,  '  If  you 
know  anything  against  them  pray  do  not  tell  it  to 
me.'     She  bore  her  misfortunes  with  perfect  resig- 
nation, and  was  courteous  and  agreeable,  although 
she  was  far  from  being  a  beauty.     She  was  always 
gay,  and  often  praised  our  Princess  of  Wales.     I 
had  a  sincere  affection  for  her,  and  her  death  deeply 
moves  me " 


(( 


Saint  Cloud,  May  i>9tli,  1718. 


"'  Yesterday  being  my  birthday  I  w^ent  to  the 
Carmelite  convent  to  thank  the  good  sisters  for  the 
present  they  had  sent  me.     It  consisted  of  an  em- 

*  Mary  of  Modena,  widow  of  James  II. 


MOTHER  OF  PHILIPPE  D'ORLEANS,        257 

broidered  bag,  trimmed  with  bows  of  ribbon,  which 
are  now  the  fashion.  Tell  me,  dear  Louise,  if  you 
[dso  make  these  bags.  Mme.  d' Orleans  does  no- 
thing else,  by  day  or  by  night,  even  at  the  play, 
indeed  anywhere  she  happens  to  be. 

''  The  Queen  of  England  met  the  approach  of 
death  with  sincere  joy,  thanking  God  for  his  good- 
ness in  taking  her  away  from  this  world.  I  also 
think  as  you  do  that  one  may  think  rather  of  her 
than  of  her  husband,  as  a  saint ;  but  I  think  that 
he  is  also  in  Heaven,  for  he  bore  his  misfortunes 
with  great  courage  and  resignation.  The  Queen 
liad  great  firmness  of  character,  and  truly  royal 
qualities,  much  generosity,  courtesy  and  judgmentc 
She  always  used  to  laugh  at  my  love  of  going  to 
the  play.  She  used  to  say,  laughing,  that  there 
was  once  a  time  when  she  had  to  stay  at  home,  for 
her  horses  had  died  and  she  had  not  money  to  buy 
others.  She  never  complained  of  her  misfortunes. 
She  was  very  thin,  with  a  long  face,  bright  eyes, 
large  white  teeth,  and  a  pale  complexion  which 
showed  all  the  more  because  she  never  used  rouge. 
She  had  an  agreeable  presence  and  was  very  clean. 
My  son  has  continued  the  pensions  of  most  of  her 
poor  old  servants." 

"  Saint  Cloud,  May  31st,  1718. 

'^  My  son  cares  but  little  for  the  country.  He  only 
likes  town  life.  He  is  not  unlike  Mme.  de  Longue- 
ville,  who  used  to  feel  extremely  dull  in  her  hus- 
band's castle  in  Normandy.     Those  with  her  said, 

s 


258 


LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF  THE 


^  Madame,  will  you  not  try  to  divert  yourself  some- 
what? There  are  hounds  and  forests,  will  you  hunt  ? ' 

*  No,'  answered  she,  '  I  do  not  care   for  hunting.  ' 

*  Do  you  care  for  embroidery  ?  '  '  No,  I  do  not 
care  for  work.'  ^  Do  you  like  walking  or  playing 
at  some  game  ? '  '  No,  I  like  neither  the  one  nor 
the  other.'  '  What  do  you  care  for  tlien  ? '  they 
asked  her.  She  answered,  '  Wliat  would  you  have 
me  say?     I  do  not  care  for  innocent  pleasures !  " 

"  Saint  Cloud,  tliis  9tli  of  June,  1718. 

"  Half-past  eight  in  tlie  morning. 

"  They  say  in  Paris  that  it  is  M.  de  Bernstorf 
who  sets  the  King  of  England  against  the  Prince 
and  Princess  of  Wales.  He  ought  to  be  ashamed 
of  himself !  Born  in  Germany  and  yet  falser  than 
any  Englishman !  And  how  can  the  King  allow 
himself  to  be  led  by  this  Bernstorf  ?...." 

*'  I  am  astonished  at  the  lies  some  j^eople  are 
capable  of  spreading  about  others !  The  poor 
Queen  of  England  could  not  save  anything,  for 
all  that  she  did  not  give  to  her  son  went  to  the 
poor.  The  other  lie  told  about  her  affairs  is  how- 
ever the  worst,  namely,  that  she  owned  before  her 
death  that  the  Chevalier  was  not  her  son.  One  has 
only  to  look  at  his  face  to  see  who  he  is,  so  astonish- 
ingly does  he  resemble  all  his  relatives.  He  is  really 
the  rightful  heir  of  the  Stuarts.  The  third  lie  is 
that  my  Lord  Mar  caused  the  mother  and  son  to 
quarrel  together " 


I 


MOTHER  OF  PHILIPPE  D^ORLEJNS,      259 

'^  Saint  Cloud,  lOtli  June,  1718. 

"  3  o'clock  in  the  afternoon. 

"  The  Queen  of  England,  as  far  as  avarice  was 
concerned,  was  not  in  the  least  Italian,  for  she 
never  saved  a  fartliing.  Indeed  she  had  every 
royal  quality.  Her  only  failing  (no  one  is  perfect 
in  this  world)  was  her  extreme  piety.  This  was  the 
cause  of  all  her  misfortune.  She  could  never  save, 
for  she  was  never  regularly  paid;  on  the  contrary, 
she  found  herself  obliged  to  borrow.  It  is  not  true 
that  her  servants  stole  her  furniture,  for  she  was 
lodged  in  the  King's  furnished  apartments  at  Saint 
Germains 

^'  There  have  been  but  few  Queens  of  England 
who  have  led  happy  lives,  neither  have  the  Kings 
of  that  country  been  particularly  fortunate " 

"Saint  Cloud,  June  30tli,  1718. 

'*  A  quarter-past  seven  in  the  morning. 

**'  You  ought  not  to  doubt  of  my  affection  for  you. 
Are  you  not  the  daughter  of  the  father  I  loved  more 
than  my  life  ?  It  is  not  your  fault  that  we  did  not 
have  the  same  mother.  You  repair  the  misfortune 
of  your  birth  by  your  many  virtues,  so  how  can  I 
help  hol'^ing  you  in  sincere  affection?  .... 

**The  King  of  England  will  not  allow  the  Prince 
of  Wales  to  see  his  children  ;  he  has  not  seen  them 
for  six  months.  I  do  not  think  this  at  all  reason- 
able. Neither  has  the  King  allowed  the  children 
to  visit  their  mother.  The  other  day  the  poor  little 
things  gathered  a  basket  full  of  cherries  and  sent 

s2 


26o 


LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF  THE 


it  to  tlieir  father  with  a  message  that  though  they 
were  not  allowed  to  go  to  him,  their  hearts,  souls, 
and  thoughts  were  with  their  dear  father  always. 
This  brought  the  tears  into  my  eyes " 

"Saint  Cloud,  Aug.  4th,  1718. 

"  Yesterday  I  received  a  letter  from  the  Princess 
of  Wales.  She  said  nothing  about  a  conspiration. 
Talking  of  conspirations  I  must  tell  you  that  yester- 
day at  the  play,  my  son  told  me  that  the  Czar  had 
called  a  council  composed  of  all  the  bishops  and 
State  councillors ;  then  he  sent  for  his  son.  On 
the  latter's  appearing  before  them  the  Czar  went 
up  and  embraced  him  saying,  ^  Is  it  possible  that 
after  my  having  spared  thy  life  thou  still  meant  to 
assassinate  me  ?  '  The  Prince  denied  everything. 
Then  the  Czar  gave  the  council  some  j^apers  that 
had  been  found  in  his  son's  possession  and  said,  ^  I 
cannot  be  my  son's  judge.  Be  merciful  to  him  ! ' 
He  then  retired.  The  council  with  one  voice  con- 
demned the  Prince  to  death.  When  the  Czarewitch 
was  told  the  sentence  he  seemed  greatly  agitated, 
and  remained  alone  for  some  hours.  Then  he  asked 
whether  he  might  see  his  father  once  more;  this  he 
did  in  an  interview  during  Avhich  he  avowed  every- 
thing, asking  his  forgiveness  with  tears.  He  died 
repenting  of  his  sins.  Between  ourselves  I  believe 
that  they  gave  him  poison  to  avoid  the  shame  of 
his  being  placed  in  the  hands  of  the  public  execu- 
tioner. This  is  a  terrible  story  and  resembles  some- 
what a  tragedy  named  Andronic, 


MOTHER  OF  PHILIPPE  D'ORLEANS.     261 

'^  I  thought  that  M.  Law  was  English,  not  Scotch. 
In  any  case  he  is  extremely  unpopular.  He  seems 
to  me  an  honest  and  clever  man 

'^  People  are  not  kinder  here  to  their  children 
than  in  England.  They  put  them  out  to  nurse  in 
the  country  and  do  not  trouble  themselves  about 
them  for  a  year  or  two.  I  cannot  help  fancying 
that  many  thus  become  changelings.  .  . 


?j 


a 


"  Saint  Cloud,  Aug.  25th,  1718. 

Parliament  is  a  source  of  endless  trouble  to  my 
son,  and  excites  the  populace  and  citizens  of  Paris 
against  him  more  than  ever.  Every  night  I  thank 
God  that  nothing  fresh  has  occurred  during  the 
course  of  the  day.  Many  here  would  like  to  have 
the  King  of  Spain  on  the  throne,  for  he  is  feeble 
and  would  be  more  easily  led  than  is  my  son. 
Each  only  thinks  of  himself.  They  say  that  the 
King  of  Spain  has  a  right  to  the  throne  of  France, 
and  that  he  was  unfairly  dealt  with  when  sent  away 
from  his  country.  All  this  is  discussed  as  though 
the  little  King's  death  was  a  certainty.  Should  he 
really  die  my  son  would  be  King,  but  he  would  not 
find  himself  any  surer  of  his  position  for  that,  so 
the  King's  death  would  turn  out  greatly  to  his  dis- 


advantage. 


j> 


To  THE  Princess  of  Wales. 

"  Paris,  Oct.  1st,  1718. 

*•  The  King  *  was  only  superstitious  as  regarded 

*  Louis  XIV. 


262 


LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF  THE 


religion  and  miracles Unless  to  those  he 

disliked,  he  always  spoke  with  great  courtesy." 

"Paris,  Oct.  16th,  1718. 

"  The  King  forgot  Mdlle.  de  la  Valliere  as  com- 
pletely as  though  he  had  never  seen  her 

She  had  as  many  virtues  as  the  Montespan  had 
vices.  Her  only  weakness,  her  great  Jove  for  tlie 
King,  was  very  excusable ;  he  was  young,  gallant 
and  handsome.  She  herself  was  but  a  girl,  and 
everyone  conspired  to  ruin  her.  She  was  by  nature 
modest  and  virtuous,  and  very  kind-hearted.  I 
sometimes  told  her  that  she  had  transposed  her 
love,  and  had  given  to  God  all  the  affection  she 
had  once  had  in  her  heart  for  the  King. 

^^  Whoever  accused  La  Valliere  of  loving  anyone 
but  the  King  did  her  the  greatest  injustice;  but 
the  Montespan  cared  little  how  many  lies  slie  told 
to  gain  her  ends." 

''Paris,  Oct.  29th,  1718. 

*^  Monsieur  was  so  fond  of  the  sound  of  bells  that 
he  used  to  come  to  Paris  for  All  Saints'  night  on 
purpose  to  hear  them ;    yet   he  did  not  care  for 

music He  always  pretended  to  be    very 

pious.  The  soldiers  used  to  say  of  him,  '  He  is 
more  afraid  of  the  dust  and  sun  than  of  beinc 
shot,'  and  this  was  quite  true." 

"  Paris,  Nov,  1st,  1718. 

"  My  son  cannot  deny  that  he  is  fickle  and  in- 
discreet. Once  when  we  saw  together  a  scene  in 
a  comedy  where  a  loyer  tires  of  his  mistress,  he 


I 


MOTHER  OF  PHILIPPE  D'ORLEANS.      263 

said  to  me,  ^  That  is  exactly  the  position  in  which 
I  often  find  myself.'  .... 

*'  He  has  begged  my  Lord  Stanhope  to  speak  to 
the  King  of  England  in  favour  of  your  Highness. 
He  says  that  it  is  his  most  earnest  wish  to  see  your 
Highness  on  good  terms  with  the  King,  and  that 
he  will  do  his  best  to  bring  a  reconciliation  about, 
for  he  feels  persuaded  that  both  in  your  own 
interest  and  that  of  the  King's  you  ought  to  live 
together  on  good  terms. 

^'My  son  is  certainly  to  be  pitied  for  having  such 

a  wife He  goes  to  see  her  every  day.     If 

she  is  in  a  good  temper  he  stays  some  time,  if  other- 
wise, which  is  oftener  the  case  with  her,  he  leaves 
without  a  word " 

''  Paris,  Nov.  3rd,  1718. 

'^  I  feel  wretched  when  I  think  of  all  that  M.  de 
Louvois  burnt  in  the  Palatinate.  I  expect  that  he 
is  burning  now  in  the  other  world,  for  he  died  so 
suddenly  that  he  had  no  time  for  repentance.  He 
was  poisoned  by  his  doctor,  who  was  in  his  turn 
poisoned,  but  before  dying,  he  (the  doctor)  acknow- 
ledged his  crime,  but  as  he  was  a  friend  of  the  old 
toad's  they  pretended  that  he  was  delirious  when 
he  said  it.  By  all  this  one  can  see  how  marvellous 
is  God's  justice.  We  are  generally  punished  by 
where  we  have  sinned." 

Madame  was  greatly  afraid  of  the  Due  du  Maine 
and  his  treacherous  wife,  who  were  always  plotting 


264 


LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF  THE 


to  abolish  the  Regency,  if  not  worse,  for  in  Sep- 
tember she  writes  to  her  half-sister — 

''  The  little  dwarf  has  declared  that  if  it  can  be 
accomplished  in  no  other  way  she  will  imitate  Jael 
and  drive  a  nail  through  my  son's  head,  thus  as- 
suring his  death.  My  son  is  indifferent  to  her 
threats.  When  I  implore  him  to  beware  of  them, 
he  bursts  out  laughing  .  .  .  ." 

Then  to  Herr  von  Harling  a  few  days  later— 
"As  for  what  concerns  M.  and  Mme.  du  Maine, 
every  day  fresh  plots  are  brought  to  light.  It  is 
enough  to  make  one's  hair  stand  on  one's  head.  I  do 
not  think  that  the  devil  himself  can  be  worse  than 
the  old  Maintenon,  and  her  Due  and  Duchesse. 
She  says  openly  that  she  would  like  to  ask  the  Regent 
for  an  audience  and  in  the  course  of  it,  stab  him  to 
the  heart.  By  this  you  see  her  i^leasing  gentleness 
of  disposition.  .  .  .  They  are  greatly  to  be  feared, 
for  many  of  the  great  Court  nobles  are  with  them 
in  sympathy,  and  have  private  dealings  with  the 
Court  of  Spain.  They  want  the  King  of  Spain 
here,  for  they  find  my  son  too  clever  a  fellow. 
They  would  prefer  a  sovereign  whom  they  could  lead 
themselves.     Therefore  my  son's  life  is  not  safe." 

And  on  the  22nd  of  the  same  month,  to  the  Rau- 
gravine  Louise — 

"Thank  God  my  son  has  escaped  up  to  the  present 
time,  but  1  fear  the  future.  The  individual  against 
whom  my  son  has  to  take  precautions,  the  Due  du 


MOTHER  OF  PHILIPPE  D'ORLEJNS,      265 

Maine,  was  born  and  brought  up  in  the  most  evil 
fashion.  His  mother  was  one  of  the  worst  women 
the  world  has  ever  seen.  I  know  of  three  people 
whom  she  poisoned,  Mdlle.  de  Fontange*  and  her 
child,  and  a  young  lady,  a  friend  of  the  Fontanges. 
No  doubt  she  poisoned  others  whose  names  I  do  not 
happen  to  know.  He  (the  Due  du  Maine)  was 
brought  up  by  the  Maintenon.  That  old  devil  has 
spent  her  whole  existence  struggling  to  get  her 
pupil  placed  on  the  throne,  so  as  to  reign  with  him. 
She  caused  him  to  be  legitimised,  and  would  like 
to  see  him  at  the  head  of  the  Government,  and 
my  son  deprived  of  life  and  liberty.  She  had  with 
her  our  great  nobles  and  the  King  of  Spain.  All 
this  causes  me  to  pass  many  a  sleepless  night,  and 
his  Regency  is  anything  but  a  happiness  to  me.  .  .  . 
I  know  only  too  well  the  wickedness  of  the  old 
woman " 

"  Paris,  Nov.  10th,  1718.     • 

"Lord  Stairs  looks  happy  and  well  in  health. 
His  wife  would  like  him  to  be  recalled  to  England. 
Whilst  he  remains  here  she  is  frightfully  jealous, 
for  her  husband  has  a  great  passion  for  a  pretty 
woman  named  Mme.  Raymond,  who  is  not  only 
beautiful,  but  witty,  learned,  and  well-bred.  .  . 


j> 


''  Paris,  Nov.  24th,  1718. 

''  We   know  now  that    the    rumour   of    Prince 
Eugene's  death  by   poison  was  false  news,  and  as 

*  A  Mistress  of  Louis  XIV, 


•I 


aauuj^j 


.^l.-JU^<f 


266 


LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF  THE 


in  Paris  they  jump  from  one  extreme  to  the  other, 
there    is   now   a   report   that   he   is   going   to   be 

married 

'^  Louvois  and  siicli  similar  wicked  people  are  one 
mass  of  vice  and  falseness.  I  have  often  heard  that 
Louvois,  the  Montespan,  and  the  old  woman  learnt 
the  art  of  poisoning  from  Brinvilliers  *  herself. 
Let  us  hope  that  it  will  die  with  the  last  of  them.t 
This  art  is  also  known  at  the  Court  of  Berlin,  for 
the  Elector  and  his  brother  were  both  poisoned;  the 
youngest  died  immediately.  When  they  opened 
him  they  found  in  liis  stomach,  diamond  powder. 


>> 


To  THE  Princess  of  Wales. 

"  Paris,  Dec.  5tL,  1718. 

*^The  King,  Monsieur,  the  Dauphin,  and  the  Due 
de  Berri  were  great  eaters.  I  have  often  seen  the 
King  eat  four  platefuls  of  different  kinds  of  soup,  a 
whole  pheasant,  a  plateful  of  salad,  two  large  slices 
of  ham,  mutton  with  garlic,  a  plateful  of  cakes,  and 
then  some  fruit  and  hard-boiled  eggs.  Both  the 
King  and  Monsieur  were  very  fond  of  hard-boiled 
eggs." 

''  Paris,  Dec.  9tb,  1718. 

"  All  my  life,  and  from  early  youtli  I  knew  my- 
self to  be  so  ugly  that  I  never  took  much  trouble 
about  dress.  Jewels  and  fine  clothes  draw  attention 
on  those  who  wear  them.     It  was  fortunate  that  I 

*  A  famous  poisoner,  Mnie.  do  Brinvilliers. 
j"  Mme.  (Ic  Maintenon. 


I 


A 


MOTHER  OF  PHILIPPE  UORLEANS,      267 

felt  this  indifference  about  my  attire,  otherwise  the 
late  Monsieur,  who  was  extremely  fond  of  jewelry, 
would  have  been  perpetually  quarrelling  with  me  as 

to  which  of  us  should  wear  the  best  diamonds 

He  used  to  settle  exactly  what  I  should  wear,  and 
even  apply  the  rouge  on  my  cheeks  himself " 

"  Paris,  Dec.  23rd,  1718. 

"  Mme.  de  Fiennes,  who  attended  the  Queen 
(Anne  of  Austria)  in  her  youth,  used  to  say  to  the 
late  Monsieur,  *  The  Queen,  your  mother,  was  a 
foolish  woman,  God  rest  her  soul.'  My  aunt,  the 
Abbesse  de  Maubuisson,  told  me  that  Queen  Marie 
had  a  man  in  her  service  who  used  to  be  called  the 
mender  of  the  Queen's  face  ;  for  the  Queen  and  all 
her  ladies,  young  and  old,  covered  their  faces  with 
powders  and  rouge. 

^^The  King  (Louis  XIV.)  had  a  fine  figure,  pretty 
feet,  and  an  agreeable  countenance.  He  spoke 
naturally,  and  had  a  charming  voice,  neither  too 
loud  nor  too  soft.  We  shall  never  see  his  equal. 
He  remained  charming  till  the  day  of  his  death. 
Those  of  my  ladies  who  saw  him  after,  said  that 
they  could  not  have  recognised  him." 

To  THE  Kaugravine  Louise. 

"Paris,  Dec.  29th,  1718. 

"  I  am  so  troubled  that  my  hand  trembles  as 
I  write.  My  son  came  .  and  told  me  that  he 
had  decided  to  have  his  brother-in-law  *   and  the 


*  The  Due  (lu  Maine,  Lis  wife's  brother, 


I  WMB 


i!^ 


268 


LIFE  AND   LETTERS  OF  THE 


Duchesse  arrested!  They  are  the  heads  of  the 
frightful  Spanisli  conspiracy.  All  lias  been  dis- 
covered. Papers  were  seized  at  the  Spanisli  Em- 
bassy, and  those  arrested  have  made  complete 
avowals.  The  Duchesse,  as  a  Princess  of  the  Blood, 
was  arrested  by  a  Captain  of  the  Guard ;  her  hus- 
band, who  was  in  the  country,  by  a  lieutenant.  The 
Duchesse  was  sent  to  Dijon,  her  husband  to  the 
small  castle  of  Doulens.  All  the  others  are  in  the 
Bastille " 

''Paris,  Jan.  7tli,  1719. 

^^Tlie  Due  and  Duchesse  du  Maine  have  written 
on  all  sides  to  try  and  justify  themselves.  The 
thought  of  their  wickedness  makes  me  quite  ill. 
You  cannot  imagine  what  infamous  libels  they  have 
spread  about  my  unfortunate  son 

''All  the  Due  de  Maine's  intrigues  come  from  the 
old  Maintenon  and  the  Princesse  des  Ursins ;  they 
are  both  incarnate  fiends " 

To  THE  Princess  of  Wales. 

"Paris,  Jan.  SOtli,  1719. 

"  The  Duchess  of  Zell  belongs  to  a  very  common 
family.  She  would  have  been  lucky  had  she 
married  one  of  my  gentlemen-in-waiting.  .  . 


5J 


"Paris,  Feb.  3rd,  1719. 

"  There  was  once  an  old  Princess  of  Schoeningen 
at  Berlin,  who  was  greatly  in  love  with  Prince 
Maurice  of  Nassau.  Beino^  no  lono:er  able  to  walk 
she  had  herself  carried  about  in  a  sedan-chair  after 


MOTHER  OF  PHILIPPE  D^ORLEANS,       269 

him.  This  annoyed  him  greatly,  and  as  she  used 
to  torment  him  to  give  her  his  portrait,  he  asked  her 
what  she  saw  in  him  that  specially  charmed  her  ? 
She  answered  that  it  was  his  fine  figure,  broad  back, 
and  fine  legs.  He  replied,  '  Very  well,  I  will  have 
my  portrait  painted  as  soon  as  I  get  back  to  Holland 
and  send  it  to  you.'  Some  time  after  his  departure 
his  portrait  arrived.  Every  one  ran  to  see  if  it  was  a 
o-ood  likeness,  but  when  it  was  unrolled  thev  saw 
that  he  had  been  painted  from  the  back  !  He  wrote 
a  letter  saying  that  he  sent  that  portion  of  him 
which  had  most  charmed  the  Princess  ! " 

"Paris,  Feb.  14tli,  1719. 

'^  When  the  old  toad  became  aware  that  there 
had  been  a  bad  harvest,  she  used  to  buy  up  all  the 
corn  she  could  lay  her  hands  upon.  In  this  way  she 
got  a  great  deal  of  money,  but  all  the  poor  died  of 
hunger.  She  had  not  had  granaries  enough  built 
one  year,  so  a  great  deal  of  the  corn  got  spoilt,  and 
it  had  to  be  thrown  into  the  Seine.  The  people  said 
that  it  was  a  judgment  on  her  sent  from  God." 


"  Paris,  Feb.  28th,  1719. 


(( 


We  laughed  heartily  together  yesterday.  I 
asked  my  son  how  Mme.  de  Maintenon  was  in 
health.  He  replied  thai  she  was  very  well.  '  How 
can  that  be,  considering  her  age  ?  '  I  observed.  He 
answered  '  Are  you  not  aware  that  to  punish  the 
Devil,  God  has  forced  him  to  reside  for  a  long  time 
in  her  ugly  body  ?  '  " 


.:i^ 


270 


LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF  THE 


I 


"Paris,  March  5th,  1719. 

"  It  is  entirely  owing  to  the  Montespan  that  the 
King  fell  in  love  with  the  old  toad.     Firstly,  by 
hiding  from  him  the  life  that  had  been  led  by  the 
creature ;  *  again  she  told  everyone  to  praise  her 
piety,  and  extol  her  virtue  to  tlie  King ;    in  this 
manner  he  became  persuaded  that  anything  said 
against  her   was   pure   calumny.     The   Montespan 
was  very  capricious,  fond  of  amusement  and  hating 
to  be  always  alone  with  the  King.     Her  feeling  for 
him  partook  more  of  the  nature  of  self-interest  and 
ambition  than  of  affection.     To  occupy  his  atten- 
tion  and  prevent  his  seeing  what  she  was  about,  she 
sent  for  the  Maintenon  to  amuse  him.  Yet  the  Kino-, 
at   first,    was  not  pleased   with  this  arrangement. 
He  often  reproached  his  mistress  with  not  really 
loving  him.     They  constantly  quanelled  violently. 
This   was  the  Scarron's  oj3portunity.      She  made 
peace  between  them,  and  consoled  the  poor  King, 
showing  him  how  ill-tempered  and  disagreeable  the 
Montespan  made  herself.     This  woman  had  a  cer- 
tain  eloquence  and  fine  eyes,  so  the  King  grew 
used  to  her  and  believed  that,  with  her  help,  he 
would  soon  become  a  saint.      She,  whilst  makinir 
him   understand   how   greatly  she  loved  him,  yet 
declared  that  nothing  would  induce  her  to  sin  or 
break  God's  law.     This  filled  him  Avith  admiration 
for  her,  and  disgust  for  the  Montespan,  wdio  was 
always  ill-tempered  when  he  came  to  see  her.     The 

*  Dieses  Vieh. 


MOTHER  OF  PHHIPPE  D^ORLEANS.       271 

Maintenon,  on  the  contrary,  was  always  as  sweet  as 
honey,  only  blaming  the  King  for  neglecting  the 
Queen,  and  predicting  that  he  would  certainly  be 
damned  did  he  continue  his  evil  way  of  life  with 
the  Montespan.  The  King  repeated  all  this  to  the 
Queen,  who,  worthy  woman,  thought  herself  under 
great  obligations  to  the  Maintenon.  She  took  her 
into  favour,  and  had  her  appointed  lady-in-waiting 
to  the  Dauphine.  This  made  the  Montespan 
furiously  angry.  She  told  the  King  all  about  the 
Maintenon's  past  life,  but  he,  knowing  what  a  spite- 
ful devil  she  was,  refused  to  believe  anything  of 
what  she  told  him.  The  Due  du  Maine  t  persuaded 
his  mother  to  retire  from  Court,  for  she  loved  her 
son  and  believed  what  he  told  her,  namely,  that 
once  gone,  the  King  would  send  for  her  back  again. 
But  the  Due  du  Maine  had  all  her  belongings  pri- 
vately moved  to  Paris,  and  caused  her  furniture  to 
be  thrown  out  of  the  windows  of  her  apartment  at 
Versailles,  so  it  was  rendered  impossible  for  her  to 
come  back.  As  for  the  King  he  had  treated  the 
Montespan  so  harshly  that  he  was  only  too  glad  to 
get  rid  of  her " 

Although  the  Due  du  Maine's  plots  were 
discovered,  and  the  Kegent  had  him  arrested  to- 
gether with  his  wife,  Madame  seems  still  to  have 
feared  the  latter  greatly.  The  Princesse  de  Maine 
was  an  exceedingly  small  woman,  althougli  slightly 

t  Son  of  Louis  XIV.  and  Mme.  de  Montespan,  but  brought  up 
by  Mme.  de  Maintenon. 


272  LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF  THE 

taller  than  her  sisters.  Saint  Beuvc  says  that 
instead  of  being  called  '' Les  princesses  d it  scoiff," 
tliey  were  nicknamed  '^  Les  poupees  die  sang.^^ 
Madame  often  refers  to  her  as  the  "  the  dwarf," 
and  writes  about  this  time  to  the  Princess  of  Wales, 
''The  Due  du  Maine  has  just  written  to  his  sister 
(Madame's  daughter-in-law),  'Instead  of  putting 
me  in  prison,  they  ought  to  have  stripped  me,  and 
arraved  me  in  woman's  apparel,  for  having  thus 
allowed  myself  to  be  led  by  my  wife.'  " 

To  THE  Kaugravine  Louise. 

"  Paris,  March  lltli,  1719. 

''  Here  people  no  longer  believe  in  sorcerers  and 
witches.     You  would  not  show  yourself  our  father's 
daughter  if  you  believed  in  such  things.     He  was 
above  such  superstitions ;  but  when  poison  or  sacri- 
lege is  mixed  up  with  these  matters,  one  cannot 
punish  too  severely,  and  I  should  certainly  have 
such  people  burnt  without  mercy.     But  we  ought 
not  to  burn  witches  on  the  pretext  that  they  fly 
through  the  air  on  broomsticks,  or  change  them- 
selves into   cats.      Tf   you   know   any  other   tales 
about  witches,  I  should  be  glad  to  hear  them " 

"  Paris,  March  16th,  1711). 

"  8  o'clock  in  the  morning. 

''  At  eleven  o'clock,  I  shall  go  to  a  Lenten 
course  of  sermons  that  are  being  given  in  a  church 
near  here.  The  Abbe  does  not  preach  well.  He  is 
very  different  to  the  Bishop  of  Clermont,  who 
preaches  admirably  well.     The  other  says  nothing 


MOTHER  OF  PHILIPPE  D^ORLEJNS.      273 

absurd,  so  one  must  needs  be  content  with  him. 
Between  ourselves  no  sermon  gives  me  pleasure ;  I 

think  the  thing  worthy,  but  not  diverting " 

"  Before  the  second  Princess  *  and  the  Prince  of 
Prussia  are  really  married,  I  think  that  much 
water  will  have  flowed  under  the  bridge,  as  they 
used  to  say  at  Heidelburg.  I  do  not  think  that  a 
queen's  life  is  a  happy  one  ;  for  my  part  I  never 
wished  to  be  a  queen.  One  is  more  shut  off  from 
real  life,  and,  like  unto  a  pagan  idol,  must  be  content 
in  silence,  and  endure  all  that  may  occur  without  a 
murmur.  To  be  a  queen  means  belonging  to  a 
sad  confraternity  who  spend  their  lives  in  unreal 
vanities;    nothing  true  or  solid  reaches  them " 

''  Paris,  Marcli  25th,  1719. 

^'  To-day  is  my  Bible  day.  I  have  already  read 
four  Psalms,  four  chapters  of  the  Old  Testament, 
and  three  of  the  New.     Apropos  of  Bibles,  a  Berlin 

pastor  has  sent  me  a  New  Testament It 

has  been  translated  in  an  entirely  impartial  manner, 
and  pleases  me  for  that  reason ;  for  I  cannot  bear 
translations  influenced  by  the  private  feelings  of 
the  translator Lord  Stairs  told  me  some- 
thing yesterday  that  greatly  troubled  me,  namely  : 
that  there  had  arisen  a  rumour  in  England  of  my 
son's  assassination.  This  shows  that  his  enemies 
still  mean  to  get  rid  of  him,  and  spread  a  rumour 
of  his  having  been  assassinated  abroad,  to  see  how 
the  news  will  be  received." 

*  Second  daughter  of  the  Prince  of  Wales. 

T 


274 


LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF  THE 


Although  the  Regent  gave  his  mother  a  large 
present  of  money  in  the  winter  of  1719  rmnours  of 
financial  difficulty  began  to  be  rife.  As  will  be  seen 
in  the  next  letter,  Madame  complained  that  every- 
thing was  getting  much  more  expensive.  The 
offices  of  the  Mississippi  Company  were  situated  in 
the  Rue  Quincampoix  and  were  already  crowded 
with  shareholders  eager  to  turn  their  paper  into 
gold  and  silver.  The  notes  began  to  be  looked 
upon  with  suspicion  by  the  same  people  who  had 
realised  perhaps  only  a  few  weeks  before  enormous 
sums  by  successful  speculation  with  this  same  paper 
money,  which  was  at  one  time  actually  preferred  to 
specie  !  It  can  be  easily  imagined  that  Madame 
did  not  become  aware  of  what  was  going  on  for 
some  time,  but  she  was  growing  uneasy. 

To  THE  Eaugravine  Louise. 

"  Paris.  March  30th,  1719. 

"  I  cannot  believe  that  the  King  of  England  is 
really  going  to  Hanover  ;  if  he  does  not  do  so  the 
ladies  there  will  have  ordered  their  fine  clothes  to  no 

purpose I  have  just  received  your  letter 

of  the  14th.  Thank  you  for  the  fine  ghost  stories 
contained  in  it.  They  will  give  me  something  to 
talk  about  to  Mme.  d' Orleans,  who  is,  as  you  may 
guess,  somewhat  difficult  to  entertain. 

'^Everything  here  has  doubled  in  price  during 
the  last  year,  furniture,  clothes,  food,  and  articles 

of  all  sorts. 

*^  Every  day  fresh   plots   are  brought  to  light. 


'■ 


MOTHER  OF  PHILIPPE  D'ORLEJNS.      275 

The  Due  de  Richelieu  goes  to  the  Marquis  de 
Berri,  who  is  faithful  to  my  son,  and  assures  him 
of  his  loyalty,  asking  at  the  same  time  for  leave  to 
go  and  join  his  regiment.  Simultaneously,  a  letter, 
written  by  the  same  Due  to  Alberoni,  is  intercepted, 
which  proves  him  to  have  been  also  mixed  up  in  these 
plots.  My  son  had  him  immediately  arrested  and 
taken  to  the  Bastille.  All  the  women  in  Paris  are 
plunged  in  deep  grief,  for  all  the  ladies  are  in  love 
with  him.  I  cannot  see  the  reason  of  it,  for  he  is  an 
ugly  little  toad,  and  far  from  agreeable  in  manner. 
He  is  also  a  great  coward,  impertinent,  unfaithful, 
and  indiscreet,  yet  a  certain  Royal  Princess  *  is  so 
greatly  in  love  with  him  that  when  he  became  a 
widower  she  was  determined  to  marry  him,  but 
her  grandmother  and  brother  very  properly  forbade 
the  marriage,  for  independently  of  wedding  below 
lier  rank  she  would  have  led  a  wretched  life " 

«  Paris,  April  13th,  1719. 

'^  I  was  truly  grieved  to  hear  of  the  death  of  your 
great-niece,  but  a  woman's  life  is  so  seldom  happy, 
my  dear  Louise,  that  one  ought  rather  to  be  glad 
of  the  death  of  a  little  girl- child,  for  it  is  a  brand 
saved  from  the  burning.  I  am  more  troubled  than 
ever  by  all  that  I  see  and  hear  round  me.  I  wonder 
that  the  fate  of  Sodom  and  Gomorrah  does  not 
descend  from  Heaven  on  France.    But  these  things 

cannot  be  written  about I  am  concerned 

to  hear  that  your  niece  is  ill.     Could  you  move  her 

*  Madame's  granddaughter,  Mdlle.  de  Valois. 

T  2 


276 


LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF  THE 


away  from  England,  and  into  our   good  German 
atmospliere,  she  would  soon  recover.     The  air  of 


London  must  be  making  her  ill. 


>j 


To  THE  Princess  of  Wales. 

«  Paris,  April  I4tli,  1719. 

"La  Montespan  was  fairer  than  La  Valliere;  she 
had  a  pretty  mouth  and  beautiful  teeth,  but  a  bold 
exj)ression  of  countenance.  One  could  perceive  that 
she  was  always  intriguing.  She  had  lovely  fair 
hair,  and  beautiful  hands  and  arms  which  slie  did 
not  always  keep  clean.  La  Valliere  was  scrupu- 
lously clean. 

^'  It  is  owing  to  the  Montespan  that  the  King 
treated  La  Valliere  so  cruelly.  Her  heart  was  nearly 
broken,  but  the  poor  creature  believed  that  slie 
would  better  please  God  by  forcing  herself  to 
remain  in  the  Montespan's  service.  The  latter,  who 
was  full  of  spite  and  wit,  publicly  mocked  at  her, 
obliging  the  King  to  treat  her  in  the  same  manner. 
His  Majesty  had  a  fine  spaniel,  named  Malice.  At 
the  instigation  of  the  Montespan  he  used  to  pick 
up  the  little  dog  and  throw  it  at  the  Duchesse  de 
la  Valliere,  saying,  ^  Here's  your  only  fit  compa- 
nion,' .  .  .  yet  she  suffered  all  this  patiently.  .  .  . 
Her  greatest  charm  lay  in  her  expression  of  coun- 
tenance. She  had  a  slight,  pretty  figure,  but  ugly 
teeth ;  her  eyes  always  seemed  to  me  to  be  far 
finer  than  those  of  the  Montespan.  She  had  a 
modest  demeanour,  and  was  slightly  lame,  but  this 
did  not  detract  from  her  charm." 


. 


1 


MOTHER   OF  PHILIPPE  D^ORLEANS.     277 

''Paris,  April  IStli,  1719. 

"  To-day  I  must  begin  my  letter  in  the  same  strain 
as  Frau  von  Potikau  of  Saxony.  When  alone  in 
her  room,  shortly  after  one  of  her  confinements, 
she  suddenly  became  aware  of  tlie  presence  of  a 
little  old  woman  dressed  in  French  style.  This 
personage  begged  her  to  allow  a  wedding  party  to 
take  place  in  her  apartment.  Frau  von  Potikau, 
having  consented  to  this,  some  days  afterwards 
there  suddenly  appeared  a  large  company  of  dwarfs 
of  both  sexes.  They  brought  with  them  a  tiny  table, 
on  which  were  placed  a  great  number  of  dishes.  In 
the  middle  of  the  feast  one  of  their  little  women 
ran  in  saying,  ^  Thank  God,  part  of  our  troubles  are 
over ;  the  old  beast  is  dead  ! '  This  is  what  I  must 
announce  to  your  Highness :  the  old  beast  is  dead  ! 
She  died  at  St.  Cyr  last  Saturday,  the  15th  of  April, 
between  four  and  five  in  the  afternoon.  On 
hearing  of  the  Due  du  Maine's  arrest  she  fainted, 
and  to  this  may  perhaps  be  attributed  her  death, 
for  since  then  she  had  not  had  a  moment's  peace. 
The  anger  and  disappointment  she  felt  at  losing  all 
hope  of  reigning  with  the  Due  du  Maine  turned  her 
blood  and  gave  her  the  measles.  For  twenty  days 
the  fever  never  left  ]ier.  A.  terrible  storm  then 
arose  and  drove  in  the  eruption  and  finally  stifled 
her.  She  must  have  been  about  eighty-six  years 
of  age.  I  feel  sure  that  the  things  she  most  regretted 
leaving  behind  her  were  my  son  and  myself  in  good 
health.  .  .  ." 


^*. 


278 


LIFE  AND   LETTERS   OF  THE 


"Paris,  April  22nd,  1719. 

"  The  late  King  was  not  so  brave  as  Monsieur, 
but  he  was  not  a  coward.  .  .  He  was  very  fond  of 
the  Comte  de  Gramont,*  and  even  allowed  him  to 
come  to  Marly,  which  was  always  considered  as  a 
great  favour.  .  .  .  The  King  often  complained  of 
the  way  in  which  he  had  been  forbidden  to  speak 
to  people  in  his  youth,  but  he  was  naturally 
reserved,  for  Monsieur,  who  had  been  brought  up 
in  precisely  the  same  way,  always  managed  to 
gossip  with  everybody.  The  King  used  to  say 
laughing  that  Monsieur's  gossiping  ways  had  dis- 
gusted him  with  the  art  of  conversation.  ^  Ah !  ' 
he  would  say,  ^  Must  I  recount  as  many  foolish 
things  as  my  brother  to  please  those  round  me ? '" 

To  THE  Raugravine  Louise. 

*' Saint  Cloud,  May  4th,  1719. 

*•  Seven  o'clock  in  the  morning.    . 

"  I  never  interfere  with  Papal  matters.  I  have 
never  had  anything  to  do  with  the  Pope,  so  you 
must  not  address  yourself  to  me  for  a  dispensation. 

'^  It  is  quite  untrue  that  I  changed  my  name.  My 
only  title  in  France  is  that  of  ^Madame,'  my 
husband  being  the  King's  brother.  Kings'  daughters 
also  bear  this  title,  but  to  distinguish  them  their 
christian  name  is  added;  thus  Henri  IV. 's  three 
daughters  were  known  as  Madame  Elizabeth,  after- 
wards Queen  of  Spain ;   Madame  Henrietta,  after- 

*  "  The  Comte  de  Gramont's  Memoirs,"  by  Hamilton,  is  one  of 
the  best  known  books  of  the  epoch. 


MOTHER   OF  PHILIPPE  D'ORLEANS,     279 

wards  Queen  of  England ;  and  Madame  Christine, 
who  became  Duchess  of  Savoy.  The  daughters  of 
the  King's  brother  were  known  as  Mademoiselle,  the 
eldest  taking  the  simple  appellation,  the  other 
adding  some  name,  thus,  Mdlle.  de  Chartres,  Mdlle. 
de  Yalois,  Mdlle.  de  Montpensier.  The  same  rule 
obtains  with  the  King's  sons.  It  is  an  abuse  of 
style  to  say  the  Due  de  Burgogne,  the  Due  de 
Berri ;  one  ought  to  say.  Monsieur  de  Burgogne, 
Monsieur  de  Berri." 

To  THE  Princess  of  Wales. 

"  Saint  Cloud,  May  10th,  1719. 

^^  TheMaintenon  was  less  wicked  in  the  beginning. 
She  grew  worse  and  worse  as  time  went  on.  It 
would  have  sufficed  to  please  me  had  she  died 
twenty  years  ago ;  but  for  the  honour  of  the  late 
King  the  event  had  better  have  occurred  thirty- 
three  years  ago,  for,  to  the  best  of  my  belief,  she 
married  the  King  two  years  after  the  Queen's 
death,  which  occurred  thirty-five  years  ago.  .  .  . 
Tlie  great  Princesse  de  Conti  was  not  unfriendly  to 
the  Maintenon.  ...  It  was  she  who  said,  when 
told  that  she  was  dying,  '  Death  will  be  to  me  the 
least  of  all  events.'  " 


To  the  Raugravine  Louise. 

«'  Saint  Cloud,  May  13th,  1719. 

"  Nine  o'clock  in  the  morning. 

'^  You  asked  me  to  tell  you  the  cause  of  my  late 
trouble.     I  cannot  tell  you  all  the   details,   but 


28o 


LIFE  AND   LETTERS   OF  THE 


roughly  speaking  this  is  it— Mdllc.  de  Valois*  has 
had  a  terrible  love  affair  with  that  wretched  Due  de 
Richelieu,!  who  has  shown  all  licr  letters  to  his 
friends.  All  i\\e  young  roues  have  read  them.  Her 
mother  wished  me  to  talk  to  her,  but  I  refused.  I 
am  greatly  disgusted  with  this  affair,  and  cannot 
bear  the  thought  of  seeing  or  receiving  Mdlle.  de 
Valois,  yet  I  must  do  so,  or  there  will  be  a  public 
scandal.  All  this  has  been  caused  by  the  way  in 
which  Madame  d'Orlcans  brought  up  her  daughters. 
^'  The  Due  is  bold  and  impertinent ;  he  abuses 
my  son's  kindness  of  heart.  I  am  not  cruel,  yet 
I  would  willingly  see  this  rogue  hung.    I  am  really 

angry  with  him,  and  hate  him  heartily I 

fear  that  the  Maintenon's  death  will  turn  out  to 
resemble  that  of  the  Gorgon's— many  serpents  will 
continue  to  appear.  If  she  had  died  thirty  years 
ago  all  the  poor  Huguenots  would  be  still  in 
France,  and  their  Charenton  chapel  would  still  be 


standing 


To  THE  Princess  of  Wales. 

"  Saint  Cloud,  June  1st,  1719. 

''  One  day,  when  the  Queen  had  been  talking 
for  about  half-an-hour  to  the  Prince  Egon  of  Furst- 
emberg,t   she  drew  me  aside  and  said,  'Did  you 

I    did   not,'      A 


understand   M.    de   Strasburo-'P 

o  * 


*  Mdlle.  de  Valois,  daughter  of  the  Eegent. 

t  The  Due  de  Richelieu  was  the  Due  de  Lauzun's  nephew. 

X  Cardinal  and  Bishop  of  Strasbnrg. 


T 


MWHHWPH 


.--  . 


'. 


MOTHER   OF  PHILIPPE  D^ORLEJNS.     281 

moment  after  the  Bishop  said  to  me,  ^  Could  your 
Highness  make  out  what  the  Queen  was  talking 
about  ?  I  did  not  understand  a  word.'  I  answered, 
'  Then  why  did  you  answer  her  ?'  He  replied,  '  I 
thought  I  should  be  wanthig  in  courtesy  if  I  showed 
i\iii  Queen  that  I  did  not  understand  her.'  I  began 
to  laugh  so  heartily  that  I  had  to  go  away." 

*'  Saint  Cloud,  June  4th,  1719. 

^^  There  died  in  Paris  yesterday,  at  the  age 
of  eighty,  a  man,  who,  God  forgive  him!  did 
me  great  harm  during  my  thirty  years  of  married 
life.  The  Marquis  d'Effiat,  who  was  Monsieur's 
first  equerry,  and  who  also  held  this  place 
near  my  son's  person.  He  has  left  my  son  a 
fine  house,  but  not  wishing  to  accept  it  my  son 
is  going  to  return  it  to  d'Effiat's  heirs.  He 
was  an  extraordinarily  rich  man.  When  his 
house  caught  fire,  six  men  could  hardly  carry  the 
large  cases  of  gold  and  silver  he  had  stored  up.  ...  • 
It  is  frightfully  hot  here.  Yesterday  a  woman 
died  in  a  very  strange  manner.  She  became  so 
enormously  fat  that  they  feared  she  had  the 
dropsy,  and  gave  her  remedies  suitable  for  this 
complaint,  but  as  she  went  on  swelling  they 
brought  her  from  Flanders  to  Paris  to  consult 
Doctor  Helvetius,  who  is  a  very  remarkable  phy- 
sician. He  said  that  he  must  watch  the  symptoms 
for  some  days  before  pronouncing  an  opinion. 
Two  days  after  they  found  the  woman  dead  in  her 
bed,  stifled  by  her  fat,  which  had  melted  from  the 


-W  J  J»  I 


282 


LIFE  AND   LETTERS   OF  THE 


great  heat.     Was  not  this  a  strange  thing?     She 
was  named  Mme.  Don j at  .  .  .  ." 

"  Saint  Cloud.  June  6th,  1719. 

"  The  Dauphine  was  as  surely  sent  into  the 
next  world  as  if  a  pistol  had  been  fired  at  her 
head.  .  .  .  She  often  said  to  me,  '  We  are  both 
wretched,  but  there  is  this  difference  between  us, 
your  Highness  did  your  best  to  avoid  coming  here, 
whilst  I  did  my  best  to  come,  so  I  deserve  the 
fate  that  has  befallen  me.'  She  cared  for  the 
Dauphin  more  as  a  brother  than  a  husband.  When 
she  complained  of  feeling  ill  they  treated  her  as 
being  a  crazy  woman.  A  couple  of  hours  before 
her  death  she  said  to  me,  '  They  will  see  to-day 
that  I  was  not  crazy  when  I  complained  of  feeling 
ill.'  .  .  .  ." 


"  Saint  Cloud,  June  14th,  1719. 

^'  La  Valliere  had  not  retired  from  the  world 
when  I  first  arrived  in  France;  she  stayed  two 
years  longer  at  Court.  We  became  really  intimate 
together,  and  her  resolution  gave  me  true  grief. 
I  cried  bitterly  when  I  saw  her  charming  head  hid 
under  the  pall.* 

*^  After  the  ceremony  was  over  she  came  to  con- 
sole me,  saying  that  I  ought  to  rejoice  with  her,  for 
now  began  her  true  happiness.  She  also  thanked 
me  for  my  kindness  and  affection,  and  said  that 
she  would  never  forget  them. 

♦  One  of  the  ceremonies  connected  with  a  Roman  Catholic  nun's 
reception  into  a  religious  order. 


MOTHER   OF  PHILIPPE  D'ORLEANS.     283 

^'  Some  time  after  I  returned  to  see  her.  I  was 
curious  to  know  why  she  had  stayed  so  long  in  the 
Montespan's  service.  She  told  me  that  God  had 
touched  her  heart,  and  had  made  her  see  how 
greatly  she  had  sinned  ;  then  she  had  thought  that 
she  had  better  do  penance  there  where  she  had 
so  grievously  offended  Him.  During  those  three 
years  she  suffered  the  tortures  of  the  damned,  and 
had  offered  them  up  to  God  as  her  expiation  of  her 
sins,  for  as  she  had  given  great  scandal,  she  thought 
it  only  right  that  her  penance  should  be  public 
also.  She  was  thought  to  be  a  fool.  This  last  was 
what  made  her  suffer  the  most  after  her  jealousy  of 
Madame  de  Montespan.  Then  God  inspired  her 
with  the  wish  to  retire  from  the  world,  yet  she  felt 
how  unworthy  she  was  to  live  near  and  with  pure 
and  pious  women  such  as  the  other  Carmelites.  I 
could  see  that  all  this  sincerely  came  from  her 
soul  .  . 


jj 


"  Saint  Cloud,  June  25th,  1719. 

"  If  my  advice  was  followed  there  should  be  laws 
made  against  Christians  ever  speaking  ill  of  one 
another.  All  religious  differences  would  then  be 
abolished,  and  people  would  live  together  according 
to  the  Gospel  which  recommends  in  so  many  places 
the  virtue  of  charity  ....  To  speak  of  one's 
neighbour  as  being  certainly  damned  is  to  commit 
an  act  against  charity,  and  shows  hatred  instead  of 
love.  This  ought  to  be  strictly  forbidden  ;  but  I 
fear  that  my  advice  never  will  be  followed." 


284 


LIFE  AND   LETTERS   OF  THE 


MOTHER   OF  PHILIPPE  D'ORLEANS.     285 


"Saint  Cloud,  July  17th.  1719. 

^'  The  Duclicsse  de  Berri  died  last  night  between 
two  and  tln^e  o'clock  in  the  morning.  She  died 
w^hilst  sleeping.  My  son  remained  witli  her  till  slie 
had  lost  all  consciousness;  she  was  his  favourite 
child  .  . 


J? 


"Saint  Cloud,  July  18th,  1719. 

"  The  poor  Duchesse  de  Berri  caused  her  own 
death  as  surely  as  though  she  had  shot  herself  througli 
the  head,  for  she  secretly  partook  of  some  melon, 
figs,  and  milk.  She  owned  this  to  me  herself. 
My  doctor  told  me  how  she  had  refused  to  see  him 
or  anyone  else  for  fourteen  days,  during  which 
time  she  did  nothing  but  eat  ....  As  soon  as  the 
storm  arose  she  became  suddenly  worse.  Last 
evening  she  said  to  me,  '  Ah !  Madame,  this  clap 
of  thunder  will  greatly  injure  me.'  This  was 
indeed  true." 

"Saint  Cloud,  July  20th,  1719. 

'^  My  son  is  plunged  in  such  grief  that  he  has 
lost  his  sleep.  The  poor  Duchesse  de  Berri  could 
not  have  recovered  in  any  case  .  .  .  Slie  was 
buried  quietly  at  night  in  Saint  Denis.  Not  really 
knowing  how  to  preach  her  funeral  oration,  they 
made  up  their  minds  to  do  without  one.*  She 
declared  that  she  died  without  regret,  havino-  made 

*  Saint  Simon  says  of  this  granddaughter  of  Madame's,  ''  This 
Princess  was  a  prodigy  of  wit,  pride,  ingratitude,  evil,  obstinacy, 
and  looseness  of  conduct." 


her  peace  with  God,  and  that  if  her  life  were 
j^rolonged  she  feared  that  she  might  offend  Him 
again.  All  this  touched  us  deeply.  At  bottom, 
she  had  a  good  nature,  and  if  her  mother  had 
taken  more  pains  with  her  when  young,  there  would 
only  have  been  good  to  tell  of  her.  I  own  that  her 
death  has  truly  grieved  me. 

^'  But  allow  me  to  pass  on  to  another  subject,  all 
this  being  really  too  sad.  You  could  not  read  part 
of  my  last  letter  because  a  piece  of  it  was  torn  off 
by  one  of  my  dogs.  I  know  that  you  do  not  care 
for  dogs,  if  you  did,  you  would  easily  overlook 
their  few  faults.  One  of  mine,  named  Queen,  is  as 
sensible  as  a  human  being,  and  begins  howling  the 
moment  that  I  am  out  of  sight. 

**  During  one  of  the  first  few  months  that  I  was 
in  France,  I  went  out  one  night  for  a  walk  in  the 
park  at  Versailles.  The  Swiss  guard  on  patrol 
refusing  to  let  me  pass  I  said  to  him,  'Worthy 
Swiss,  allow  me  to  pass,  I  am  the  wife  of  the 
King's  brother.'  '  Has  the  King  a  brother  ? '  he 
answered.  '  What ! '  said  I ;  '  did  you  not  know 
that?  How  long  have  you  been  in  the  King's 
service  ?  '  ^  Thirty  years.'  *  Then  you  must  be 
aware  that  the  King  has  a  brother,'  I  observed ; 
'  for  you  have  to  present  arms  each  time  he  passes.' 
'Yes/  said  he;  'whenever  they  beat  the' drum  I 
present  arms ;  but  I  never  ask  why,  or  who  for. 
It  is  all  one  to  me  whether  the  King  has  a  brother 
or  children.' 


286 


LIFE  AND   LETTERS   OF  THE 


I     i 


"  I  made  the  King  laugh  heartily  by  repeating 
all  this  to  him.  ..." 

To  THE  Raugravine  Louise. 

*'  Saint  Cloud,  Aug.  10th,  1719. 

^^  As  for  the  poor  Duchesse  de  Berri's  death,  I 
know  well  to  what  it  is  due.  That  wretched 
Mouchy  killed  her  as  surely  as  though  she  had 
plunged  a  dagger  into  her  heart.  The  Duchesse 
being  consumed  with  slow  fever,  her  favourite 
brought  her  all  sorts  of  things  during  the  night, 
meat  patties,  melons,  salad,  milk,  prunes,  and  figs ; 
she  also  gave  her  some  bad  iced  beer.  Eor  fourteen 
days  she  refused  to  see  any  doctors,  but  getting 
worse  and  worse  had  to  give  way.  ..." 

Paris,  Aug.  27th,  1719. 

"  Mme.  de  Berri  had  kept  all  her  husband's 
fortune,  which  now  came  back  to  the  King,  as  well 
as  her  pension.  Yet  she  left  many  debts.  My  son 
will  have  to  pay  more  than  four  hundred  thousand 
francs.  .  .  . 

'^  Our  dear  Princess  of  Wales  is  very  defective 
in  her  spelling,  but  this  is  not  surprising,  for  she 
taught  herself  to  read.  I  have  got  used  to  it  now, 
but  at  first  I  found  it  difficult  to  understand  what 
she  meant.  Otherwise  she  expresses  herself  in  an 
agreeable  style." 


1 


MOTHER   OF  PHILIPPE  D'ORLEANS.     287 

To  theCountess  of  Degenfelt.* 
CoNDiD  Street  by  Hanover  Square,  Pony  Post,  London. 

"  At  Saint  Cloud,  Friday  Sept.  1st,  1719. 

^-  Some  time  has  already  past  since  I  received 
your  ladyship's  letter  of  the  20th  July;  but  I 
found  it  impossible  to  reply  sooner  owing  to  the 
great  number  of  letters  and  visits  of  condolence 
that  I  received.  Otherwise  I  should  not  have 
failed  to  have  thanked  your  ladyship  sooner  for 
your  kind  sympathy  during  that  time  you  were 
yourself  plunged  in  affliction.  .  .  . 

''  Two  days  ago  I  received  a  letter  from  your 
ladyship's  sister.  Are  you  not  afraid  of  allowing 
your  little  daughter  to  travel  so  young  ?  The  sea 
must  be  indeed  rough  during  the  month  of  Sep- 
tember. 

'^  I  do  not  write  to  your  ladyship's  husband 
because  I  understand  from  the  Princess  of  Wales 
that  he  is  already  on  his  way  hero.  I  should  be 
indeed  pleased  to  see  you  both,  and  be  able  to 
assure  you  personally  that  I  am, 

*'  Your  Ladyship's  very  good  friend. 
*^  Elizabeth  Charlotte." 

To  the  Princess  of  Wales- 

**■  Saint  Cloud,  Sept.  8tli,  1719. 

"  The  news  of  the  Duchesse  de  Berri's  marriasre 

*  Uaiigliter  of  Madame's  half-sister  Caroline,  and  of  the  Duke 
of  Schomberg,  son  of  the  Marshal  of  that  name  killed  at  the  battle 
of  the  Boyne. 


288 


LIFE  AND   LETTERS   OF  THE 


MOTHER   OF  PHILIPPE  D'ORLEJNS,     289 


\ 


with  that  toad*  is  only  too  true.  He  Is  noble  by 
birth  and  allied  to  several  noble  families,  but  even 
then  he  was  not  worthy  of  the  honour  done  him, 
for  he  was  only  a  captain  in  the  King's  regiment. 
All  the  women  ran  after  him.  I  think  him  ugly 
and  repulsive-looking." 

"  Saint  Cloud,  September  lOtli,  1719. 
"  The  late  King  would  willingly  have  employed 
M.    Law,    but    owing    to    the    latter  not    being 
Catholic,   the  King  imagined   that  we  could  not 
trust  him." 

*'  Saint  Cloud,  September  23ril,  1719. 

^'  I  have  only  456,000  francs,t  but  if  God  is 
willing  I  shall  not  leave  this  world  in  debt.  My 
son  has  just  increased  my  pension  150,000  francs. 
The  cause  of  all  the  financial  difficulties  here  is  the 
increase  of  gambling.  I  have  often  been  told, 
*  You  do  not  care  for  gambling,  therefore  you  are 
good  for  nothing  .  . 


» >> 


*»  Saint  Cloud,  September  29th,  1719. 
"  A  certain  person  who  was,  during  many  years, 
constantly  near  the  King's  person,  and  worked  with 
him  every  evening  in  the  Maintenon's  apartment, 
owned  to  me  lately  that  he  had  not  dared  say  any- 
thing during  her  lifetime,  but  that  now  the  old 
creature  was  dead,  he  could  assure  me  that  the  late 
King  had  a  sincere  affection  and  regard  for  me,  for 
he  often  heard  the  old  witch  tormenting  the  King 


*  M.  de  Eiom. 


t  £18,000  a  year. 


by  telling  him  all  sorts  of  stories  about  me,  but  the 
King  always  took  my  part. 

'^  No  doubt  it  is  owing  to  this  that  the  King 
said  to  me  when  dying  :  ^  Everything  was  done  to 
make  me  hate  you,  Madame,  but  without  success.' 
He  added,  after,  that  he  had  known  me  too  well 
to  believe  anything  said  against  me.  Whilst  the 
King  was  telling  me  all  this,  the  old  toad  had  such 
a  guilty  look  that  it  was  evident  to  whom  he  was 
referring." 

To  THE  Raugravine  Louise. 

"  Saint  Cloud,  October  1st,  1719. 

"  M.  Law  is  cried  down  from  jealousy.  Nothing 
can  be  better  conducted  than  his  bank.  He  has 
managed  to  clear  off  the  late  King's  terrible  debts, 
and  has  diminished  the  taxes,  thus  relieving  the 
poor  from  one  of  their  greatest  miseries.  Wood  has 
become  considerably  cheaper.  The  Town  tax  on 
wine,  meat,  and  everything  coming  into  Paris  has 
been  abolished.  All  this  causes  great  joy,  as  you 
may  imagine,  among  the  people.  M.  Law  has  very 
good  manners.  I  greatly  esteem  him.  He  does  all 
he  can  to  be  agreeable  to  me.  Neither  does  he 
act  secretly  as  did  those  who  used  to  manage  the 
public  finances  ;  on  the  contrary,  he  does  e  very- 
thing  openly  and  honourably.  It  is  quite  untrue 
that  he  has  bought  a  palace  which  once  belonged  to 
the  Duchesse  de  Berri,  for  she  never  possessed  one. 
All  the  houses  she  lived  in,  at  Meudon,  Chaville, 
and  La  Muette,  now  belong  to  the  little  King,  who 

u 


V 


9 


290 


LIFE   AND   LETTERS   OF  THE 


has  established  his  menagery  at  La  Muette.     There 
will  be  cows,  sheep,  fowls,  goats,  and  pigeons  .  .  ." 

"•  Saint  Cloud,  October  16th,  1719. 

'^  M.  Law  is  a  very  clever  fellow.  He  is  wonder- 
fully courteous  and  civil  to  everybody,  and  has 
very  good  manners.  He  speaks  French  much 
better  than  most  Englishmen  do.  .  .  ." 

"  Saint  Cloud,  October  20th,  1719. 

''The  Doctor  Chirac  was  called  to  the  bedside  of 
a  sick  lady.  Whilst  he  was  with  her  some  one  said 
that  the  shares  (of  Law's  bank)  were  going  down. 
The  doctor,  who  had  a  great  many  Mississippis,  was 
much  startled,  so  even  when  feeling  his  patient's 
pulse  he  muttered  to  himself,  '  going  down,  down, 
down ! '  Hearing  this  the  sick  woman  began 
screaming  and  lamenting,  *  Alas  !  '  said  she,  ^  I 
am  surely  dying.  M.  Chirac,  when  feeling  my 
pulse,  whispered  '  going  down,  down,  down ! ' 
The  doctor  waking  out  of  his  reverie,  looked  up  on 
hearing  this  and  said,  '  You  are  dreaming,  your 
pulse  is  regular,  and  you  will  soon  be  quite  well. 
I  was  thinking  of  the  Mississippi  Actions,  which 
are  going  down  in  price.'  Thus  he  reassured  the 
sick  lady." 

Although  Madame  wrote  to  the  Princess  of 
Wales  in  September  that  "  The  Prince  de  Conti 
has  at  last  come  to  see  me,  as  there  happened  to  be 
very  little  doing  that  day  in  the  Rue  Quincampoix, 
where  he  generally  spends  all  his  time,"  this  very 


MOTHER    OF  PHILIPPE  D^ORLEANS,     291 

same  Prince  de  Conti  shortly  after  went  to  the 
bank  and  forced  Law  to  pay  him  three  cartloads  of 
silver  in  exchange  for  some  of  the  Mississippi 
shares,  thereby  greatly  injuring  the  credit  of  the 
Company. 

But  even  at  this  advanced  period  the  Regent 
still  upheld  Law,  and  issued  a  degree  forbidding 
the  payment  of  more  than  one  hundred  francs  at  a 
time  in  specie,  and  making  the  currency  of  the 
bank-notes  obligatory. 

Madame  does  not  seem  to  have  known  of  this 
at  the  time  it  was  done. 

To  THE  Princess  of  Wales. 

"Saint  Cloud,  Oct.  20th,  1719. 

'^  The  Due  de  Sully  was  very  absent-minded. 
Dressing  one  day  before  going  to  chapel  he  forgot 
to  put  on  his  breeches.  It  was  in  winter  time,  so, 
going  into  chapel,  he  whispered,  '  Is  it  not  colder 
than  usual  to-day  ?'  Someone  answered,  '  No, 
not  more  than  it  generally  is.'  ^  Then  I  must  be 
ill,'  said  he.  '  Perhaps  you  are  lightly  clad,' 
they  suggested.  This  made  him  lift  up  his  coat 
and  he  saw  what  was  missing !" 

«  Saint  Cloud,  Oct.  22nd,  1719. 

'*  Nobody  seems  surprised  to  see  me  eating  black- 
pudding  with  pleasure.  I  have  also  brought  raw 
ham  into  fashion.  Everyone  takes  it  now;  and 
many  of  our  other  German  dishes,  such  as  sour- 
crout,  sweetened  cabbage,  beans  and  bacon,  havQ 

u2 


292 


LIFE  AND   LETTERS   OF  THE 


been  adopted,  they  are  rarely  good  here.  But 
little  game  was  eaten  before  I  came.  I  also  taught 
the  King  to  like  salted  herrings.  I  have  so  accus- 
tomed myself  to  German  dishes  that  I  cannot  bear 
any  French  concoction.  I  only  take  their  roast 
beef,  veal,  and  sometimes  mutton,  partridge,  or 
chickens,  never  pheasants." 

**  Saint  Cloud,  Oct.  26th,  1719. 

"  A  Sovereign  ought  to  understand  that  for  him 
true  piety  consists  in  wisely  governing  his  people, 
and  being  honourable  and  just.  Whoever  tells 
him  otherwise  is  a  bad  counsellor.  This  reminds 
me  of  a  conversation  I  once  heard  at  Saint  Cloud. 
A  very  worthy  but  severe  priest  happened  to  be  in 
Monsieur's  apartment.  The  latter,  who  dearly  liked 
to  play  the  hypocrite,  said,  '  I  am  very  thirsty. 
Would  it  be  breaking  the  fast  to  take  the  juice  of 
an  orange  ?'  M.  Peuillet,*  for  so  was  the  abbe 
named,  answered,  *  Oh !  Monsieur,  eat  a  whole  ox, 
if  you  like,  but  be  a  good  Christian  and  pay  your 
debts !' " 

"Saint  Cloud,  Oct.  28tb,  1719. 

"  Although  he  is  so  very  clever,  I  would  not  be 
in  M.  Law's  place  for  all  the  gold  in  the  world ;  for 
they  torment  him  unceasingly,  and  his  enemies 
spread  all  sorts  of  stories  and  lies  about  him.  .  .  ." 

*  The  same  abbe  that  attended  the  First  Madame,  Henrietta  of 
England,  on  her  deathbed. 


i 


MOTHER   OF  PHILIPPE  D'ORLEJNS,     293 

"  Saint  Cloud,  Oct.  30th,  1719. 
'^The  Czar  is  not  a  madman;  on  the  contrary, 
he  is  very  intelligent,  but  it  is  very  unfortunate 
that  he  was  brought  up  in  so  brutal  and  savage  a 
fashion.  I  think  that  the  manner  in  which  he  has 
treated  the  Czarewitch  is  cruel  beyond  expression. 
He  gives  his  son  his  word  of  honour  that  if  he  comes 
he  will  do  nothing  to  him,  and  when  he  has  come 
has  him  poisoned  in  the  Holy  Sacrament.  This  is 
such  an  abominable  and  frightful  action  that  I 
cannot  forgive  him.  .  .  ." 

"  Paris,  Nov.  8th,  1719. 
"I  at  first  thought  well  of  the  Abbe  Dubois, 
because  I  believed  him  to  be  sincerely  attached  to 
my  son ;  but  when  I  found  out  that  he  was  a  false 
beast,  only  thinking  of  his  own  interests  and  quite 
forgetting  my  son's  honour  and  helping  him  to 
become  as  vicious  as  himself,  all  my  esteem  changed 
into  liorror.  ...  I  truly  suspected  him  of  having 
been  mixed  up  in  my  son's  marriage.  I  know  it 
from  my  son  himself  and  from  friends  of  the  old 
toad's,  to  whom  Dubois,  it  seems,  used  to  go  by 
night  to  betray  and  sell  the  secrets  of  the  master 
who  trusted  him.  ..." 

"Paris,  Nov.  21st,  1719. 
"  I  am  quite  tired  of  hearing  money  and  shares 
Sf)oken  of  round  me.  .  .  People  come  from  all  the 
corners  of  Europe.  There  are  two  hundred  and 
fifty  thousand  people  more  in  Paris  than  there  were 
a  month  ago.     Stories  have  had  to  be  added  on  to 


294 


LIFE  AND   LETTERS   OF  THE 


houses,  and  the  streets  are  so  full  of  carriages  that 
many  get  run  over.  .  .  ." 

People  were  beginning  to  arrive  in  the  hope  of 
converting  their  paper  into  gold,  but  owing  to  the 
stringent  measure  taken  by  Law  and  the  Regent 
this  was  rendered  well-nigh  impossible.  Those  who, 
had  realised  fortunes  earlier  in  the  day,  having  had 
the  sense  to  reinvest  in  land  or  other  solid  property, 
could  now  congratulate  themselves  upon  having 
made  a  narrow  escape. 

Thousands  of  families  who  had  lived  simply, 
but  at  their  ease,  upon  a  modest  competence,  were 
now  hopelessly  ruined.  The  following  lines,  com- 
posed about  this  time,  express  more  eloquently  than 
anything  we  can  say,  the  past,  the  present,  and  the 
future  of  Law's  great  scheme  as  viewed  in  1720  by 
the  Parisians : — 

"  Lmidi  j'aclietais  des  Actions, 
Mardi  je  gagnais  des  millions, 
Mercredi  je  pris  equipage, 
■  Jeudi  j'aranjais  mon  menage, 
Vendredi  je  m'en  vais  au  bal, 
Et  Samedi  a  Thopital." 

To  THE  Raugravine  Louise. 

"Paris,  Nov.  30tli,  1719. 

"  I  have  to  announce  to  you  a  piece  of  very  good 
news,  namely,  the  marriage  of  Mdlle.  de  Valois  to 
the  Prince  of  Modena.  Our  envoy  started  for  Rome 
yesterday  to  ask  for  the  necessary  dispensations, 
for  they  are  second  cousins.  The  future  bride  is 
anything  but  pleased,  for  she  hoped  to  wed  her 


\ 


MOTHER    OF  PHILIPPE  D'ORLEJNS.     2Q5 

cousin,  the  Comte  de  Charolais,  but  he  was  unwill- 
ing, for  in  our  Royal  family  they  all  hate  each  other 

like  the  devil 

'*  The  Prince  de  Conti  is  certainly  somewhat  crazy. 
Sometimes  he  tells  his  wife  that  he  detests  her ;  at 
other  times  he  will  not  leave  her  one  moment,  so 
greatly  does  he  pretend  to  love  her.  One  day  he 
came  towards  her,  a  loaded  pistol  in  his  hand,  and 
told  her  that  this  time  she  should  not  escape  him, 
for  he  meant  to  kill  her.  As  she  is  aware  of  his 
peculiarities,  she  always  has  pistols  under  her  pil- 
low. Drawing  one  out  she  answered,  '  Take  good 
care  not  to  miss  me  then,  for  if  you  do  not  finish 
me  with  one  shot  you  are  a  dead  man.  Now,  fire  !' 
She  is  an  extremely  determined  and  courageous 
person.  The  Prince,  who  is  somewhat  of  a  coward, 
as  his  conduct  proved  in  the  late  war,  became 
frightened,  and  retired '' 

«<  Paris,  Dec.  1st,  1719.  • 

''  Mdlle.  de  Valois  is  beginning  to  console  herself 
for  her  hard  fate,  since  she  has  been  shown  the  fine 
clothes  made  for  her.  She  is  being  presented  witli 
forty  different  Court  gowns,  and  she  has  received 
some  fine  diamonds  from  Modena." 

"  Paris,  Dec.  14th,  1719. 

"  I  hear  that  King  George  has  arrived  in  Eng- 
land. The  poor  Prince  of  Wales,  thinking  to  please 
his  father,  sent  a  page  with  his  compliments  and 
felicitations  on  his  safe  arrival.  But  the  King 
refused  to  even  hear  the  message,  sending  back 


296 


LIFE  AND   LETTERS   OF  THE 


the  young  page  with  bitter  and  scornful  words ;  and 
he  has  also  retired  the  permission  he  had  accorded 
the  Prince  to  see  occasionally  his  little  girl.  This 
seems  to  me  cruel  and  unfair  conduct.  One  would 
imagine  this  King  to  rather  belong  to  the  Czar  than 
to  the  House  of  Brunswick  and  the  Palatinate." 

"Paris,  Dec.  28tli,  1719. 

"  The  Prince  of  Modena  is  said  to  be  a  worthy 
fellow,  intelligent,  and  pious.  He  is  not  handsome, 
but  has  been  well  brought  up,  and  is  very  reason- 
able. They  say  that  tliis  Prince  fell  greatly  in  love 
with  the  portrait  of  his  future  wife.  I  am  really 
sorry  for  him  !  Happy  couples  are  things  rarely 
met  with.  I  have  seen  people  who  have  married 
for  love  soon  after  fall  to  hating  each  other  like  the 
very  devil.  Happy  are  they  that  are  never  mar- 
ried !  How  contented  I  should  have  been  had  tliey 
left  me  alone,  and  allowed  me  to  remain  single. 
I  will  tell  you  the  true  reason  why  Princes  and 
Princesses  dislike  one  another  so  greatly;  it  is 
because  they  are  worth  nothing " 


MOTHER   OF  PHILIPPE  D'ORLEANS.     ic^-j 


CHAPTER   XIII. 


1720  TO  1721. 


To  THE  Princess  of  Wales. 

"■  Paris,  Jan.  9tli,  1720. 

"  I  have  often  walked  during  night-time  in  the 
great  gallery  of  Fontainebleau,  said  to  be  haunted 
by  Francis  I.,  but  that  worthy  King  never  did  me 
the  honour  of  appearing  to  me " 

^'  I  was  a  very  lively  child.  This  is  why  I  used  to 
be  styled  in  German  Rausclien  pet  ten  Jcnecht.  I 
can  remember  the  King  of  England's  birth  as  if  it 
had  happened  yesterday.  .  .  .  Whilst  playing  at 
hide-and-seek  with  the  little  Bulow,  I  ran  into  my 
aunt's  room,  and  hid  behind  a  large  screen  placed 
near  the  door  and  chimney.  When  the  new-born 
infant  was  brought  forward  I  darted  out  eagerly 
from  my  hiding-place  to  look  at  it,  and  was  con- 
demned to  a  whipping  for  my  curiosity,  but  in 
honour  of  the  happy  event  escaped  with  a  good 
scolding." 

*'  Paris,  Jan.  24th,  1720. 

'^  M.   Law   and   his   children    have   all  become 


¥^^ 


298 


LIFE  JND   LETTERS   OF  THE 


Catholic,  to   his  wife's  great    grief He  is 

not  at  all  grasping ;  on  the  contrary,  he  distributes 
much  money  among  the  poor,  and  helps  many  more 
privately." 

"  Paris,  Jan.  25tb,  1720. 
"  The  bridal  gifts  have  arrived  from  Modena, 
and  are  composed  of  a  very  large  jewel  that  the 
bride  is  to  wear  on  her  wedding-day,  some  fine 
diamonds,  and  the  Duke's  portrait.  The  latter  is 
very  ill-painted.  All  these  fine  things  will  only  be 
delivered  up  after  the  betrothal  has  taken  place  in 
the  King's  presence,  and  the  contract  has  been 
signed.  .  .  .  The  Grand  Duchess  (of  Tuscany)  says 
that  she  is  unwilling  to  receive  Mademoiselle,* 
for  she  knows  Italy  well,  and  believes  that  Mdlle. 
de  Valois  will  never  become  accustomed  to  their 
strange  ways.  She  says  that  she  fears,  should 
Mademoiselle  take  it  into  her  head  to  return  to 
France,  every  one  would  say,  'Here  comes  the 
second  edition  of  the  Duchesse  de  Toscane,'  or  that 
every  time  the  bride  does  something  foolish,  '  Ah  ! 
this  is  owing  to  the  instructions  given  her  by  her 
aunt,  the  Grand  Duchess,'  would  be  instantly  said. 
So  she  has  made  up  her  mind  not  to  speak  to  her 
about  her  future  life " 

"  Paris,  Jan.  27th,  1720. 
"My  son  was  seeking  for  the  Duchess  who  is 
to  accompany  his  daughter  to  Genoa.     Someone 
who  happened  to  be  present,  said  to  him,  ^  If  you 

*  The  bride,  Mdlle.  de  Valois. 


MOTHER   OF  PHILIPPE  D'ORLEANS,     299 

desire  to  have  a  choice  of  Duchesses,  Monsieur, 
why  not  go  to  Law's  ?  You  will  find  them  all  there, 
assembled  together.'  ...  My  Lord  Stairs  cannot 
keep  himself  from  showing  the  hatred  he  feels 
towards  Law,  and  yet  he  has  won  three  millions 
(of  francs)  through  his  agency. 

''  The  King  *  was  truly  grieved  by  the  Queen's 
death,  but  the  old  toad  managed  so  cleverly  that 
four  days  saw  the  end  of  his  sorrow.  Late 
Monsieur  was  extremely  fond  of  balls  and  mas- 
querades. He  danced  well,  but  in  a  feminine 
manner.  He  could  not  dance  in  a  manly  fashion, 
owing  to  the  extremely  high  heels  that  he  always 
affected.  .  .  ." 

«  Paris,  Feb.  11th,  1720. 
^^  The  population  has  diminished  in  Paris.  The 
high  prices  have  caused  many  to  leave  lately. 
Gold  and  silver  are  now  worth  nothing ;  notes  and 
tenpenny  coins  are  the  only  things  accepted.  I 
am  thoroughly  tired  of  hearing  millions,  shares, 
bonuses,  and  subscriptions  talked  of  round  me. 
Everyone  in  France  is  shamefully  grasping,  with 
the  exception  of  my  son  and  Mme.  de  Chausteaudier. 
All  the  others,  especially  the  Princes  and  Prin- 
cesses of  the  Blood,  are  frightfully  self-interested. 
They  even  fought  hand  to  hand  with  the  clerks 
belonging  to  the  Bank  of  France.  There  is  a 
saying  that  money  rules  the  world  ;  this  is  cer- 
tainly true  ill  this  place." 

*  Louis  XIV. 


300 


LIFE  AND   LETTERS   OF  THE 


"  Paris,  April  19th,  1720. 

'^  I  no  longer  hold  receptions,  for  it  is  extremely 
rare  that  the  Tabouret  Court  ladies  *  come  to  visit 
me.  I  had  invited  them  to  attend  the  audience  I 
gave  to  the  Maltese  Ambassadors,  but  not  one  of 
them  came.  During  Monsieur's  lifetime  they 
eagerly  assisted  at  my  receptions,  for  when  a 
sufficient  number  were  not  present  Monsieur 
threatened  to  inform  the  King." 

"Paris,  April  30tL,  1720. 

^'No  woman  could  ever  have  loved  the  Due 
(de  Bourbon).  He  is  very  tall,  and  as  thin  as  a 
si)linter ;  he  walks  bent  in  two,  has  legs  as  long  as 
a  stork's,  a  short  body,  no  calves,  hollow  cheeks, 
a  chin  which  hardly  seems  to  belong  to  the  face 
above  it,  and  thick  lips;  in  fact  he  is  very  ugly. 

I  have  seldom  seen  such  another " 

On  May  21st  the  Eegent  issued  an  edict, 
which,  though  meant  to  restrain,  only  increased 
the  general  state  of  insecurity  and  panic,  for  it 
reduced  both  the  Mississippi  shares  and  bank 
notes  to  one-half  of  their  nominal  value.  But, 
owing  to  the  hatred  felt  by  the  populace  for  Law' 
the  Kegent,  though  still  his  friend,  had  to  with- 
draw him  from  his  post.  Madame  writes  on  the 
31st  of  May,  from  Paris,  to  the  Raugravine  Louise, 
''  My  son  has  been  obliged  to  withdraw  Law's  jJace 

*  So  called,  because  they  had  the  right  to  sit  in  presence  of 
Royalty. 


MOTHER   OF  PHILIPPE  D'ORLEANS.     301 

from  him.  Once  that  man  was  looked  upon  as  a 
god,  now  his  life  is  hardly  safe,  and  they  have  been 
forced  to  give  him  a  company  of  Guards  to  protect 
him  from  the  fury  of  the  mob.  The  poor  fellow's 
fear  is  pitiful  to  witness.  ..."  And  a  few  days 
later,  to  the  Princess  of  Wales,  *^  The  goldsmiths 
refuse  to  work,  and  sell  their  goods  at  three  times 
their  proper  value  because  of  the  bank  note  busi- 
ness. I  have  often  wished  a  big  bonfire  could  be 
made  of  these  notes,  for  they  are  the  cause  of  great 
trouble  to  my  son ;  and  it  would  be  impossible  to 
explain  to  you  all  the  mischief  they  have  caused  in 
this  country.  .  .  ."  On  the  13th  of  July  the  bank 
was  compelled  to  suspend  payment,  after  a  run  on 
its  coffers  which  had  lasted  many  days,  for  the 
Regent  had  been  obliged  to  revoke  the  edict 
promulgated  in  May,  which  had  lowered  the  value 
of  all  the  shares  and  notes  without  really  bettering 
the  condition  of  the  bank  or  people,  who  had  been 
made  very  angry  by  this  measure  having  been 
taken  against  them. 

To  THE  Princess  of  Wales. 

"  Paris,  June  12th,  1720. 

*'  According  to  the  universal  rumour  everything 
is  going  on  here  as  badly  as  possible.  I  could  wish 
that  Law  and  his  famous  system  were  with  the 
devil  himself,  and  that  he  had  never  set  foot  in 
France. 

'^  They  do  me  over-much  honour  by  supposing 
that  had  my  advice  been  followed  things  might 


302  LIFE  AND   LETTERS  OF  THE 

have  gone  better,  for  I  have  never  given  my  advice 
as  to  anything  which  touched  the  Government, 
neither  do  I  ever  meddle  in  other  people's  business! 
But  the  French  are  so  accustomed  to  see  women 
take  an  active  part  in  public  affairs  that  it  appears 
to  them  impossible  that  I  should  remain  a  stranger 
to  what  occurs.  These  worthy  Paris  citizens,  with 
whom  I  am  popular,  attribute  to  me  all  kinds  of 
wisdom.  I  am  very  grateful  to  these  poor  people 
for  the  affection  which  they  feel  for  me,  but  I  do 
not  deserve  it  in  any  way " 

"  Paris,  June  14th,  1720. 

"  Law's  good  friend,  the  Due  d'Autin  now  desires 
to  obtain  the  latter's  late  charge  for  himself. 
He  at  first  went  against  Law,  but  four  millions 
soon  brought  him  to  look  favourably  on  his  late 
enemy. 

"  M.  Law  is  terribly  frightened.  My  son,  who  is 
afraid  of  nothing,  notwithstanding  the  threats  con- 
stantly addressed  to  him,  makes  himself  ill  with 
laughing  at  Law's  cowardice " 

To   THE   EaUGBAVIKE   LotJISE. 

"Paris,  June  18th,  1720. 

"  The  Duchess  of  Hanover  need  be  in  no  haste 
to  see  her  new  granddaughter,  our  Mdlle.  de  Valois, 
for  the  latter  seems  in  no  hurry  to  reach  Modena! 
She  is  very  strange,  and  extraordinarily  obstinate. 
Notwithstanding  her  father's  pressing  recommenda^ 
tions,  she  wishes  to  visit  Provence  and  go  to  Tou- 


^  f  v.j^ 


MOTHER   OF  PHILIPPE  D'ORLEANS,     303 

Ion,  which  town  is  quite  out  of  her  way.  She  is 
also  determined  to  pass  by  Sainte  Baume,  little 
caring  for  all  the  expense  this  will  entail  on  her 
father.  This  makes  me  angry,  though  certainly 
neither  her  father  nor  mother  ought  to  be  surprised 
at  her  conduct,  for  they  brought  her  up  extremely 
badly.  I  have  known  many  wrong-headed  women, 
but  never  the  like  of  this  foolish  girl,  whose  blood 
is  plainly  that  of  the  Montespan;  but  all  this  is 
not  my  doing.  I  could  indeed  quote  to  my  son  a 
line  from  the  Comedy, 

'Tu  I'as  voulu,  Georges  Dandin.' 

^^  The  Duke  of  Modena  has  behaved  very  ill  to 
liis  cousin,  the  Duchess  of  Hanover.  She  had  riglit 
to  every  sort  of  consideration  and  respect,  for  she 
had  brought  up  his  children  with  the  greatest  care 
and  trouble. 

'•  I  am  surprised  that  the  Princess  of  Wales  did 
not  inform  me  of  the  death  of  the  Duchess  of  Zell. 
This  makes  me  take  it  for  false  news.  I  wish  that 
she  had  indeed  died  forty  years  ago.  She  would 
have  thus  escaped  many  sorrows  and  misfor- 
tunes." 

"Paris,  July  18th,  1720. 

"  Before  answering  your  letter,  dear  Louise,  I 
must  tell  you  all  about  the  terrible  fright  that  I  had 
yesterday.  I  drove  as  usual  to  the  Carmelites, 
where  I  found  Mme.  de  Lude.  Suddenly  Mme.  de 
Chasteaudier  bursts  into  my  presence  as   pale  as 


J 


304 


LIFE   AND   LETTERS   OF  THE 


death,  and  says,  '  What  is  occurring  outside,  Ma- 
dame, ought  not  to  be  concealed  from  you.  You 
will  find  all  the  Palais  Royal  gardens  filled  with 
the  mob,  who  have  brought  there  the  bodies  of  those 
trampled  to  death  in  front  of  the  Bank.*  Law  has 
had  to  fly.  His  coach  was  broken  into  a  thousand 
pieces  and  the  doors  forced  open ! '  You  may 
imagine  the  effect  produced  on  me  by  this  announce- 
ment, but  I  said  nothing,  for  in  this  sort  of  crisis  it 
is  better  to  be  calm  and  determined.  I  went  to 
visit  the  King  as  usual,  but  found  such  a  block  in 
the  Rue  Saint  Honore  that  my  coach  was  brought 
to  a  stand-still  for  half  an  hour.  I  heard  many 
speak  against  Law,  but  nothing  was  said  about  my 
son,  and  blessings  were  invoked  on  my  head.  At 
last  I  arrived  at  the  Palace ;  there  all  was  quiet,  for 
the  mob  had  retired.  My  son  came  to  see  me.  He 
declared  that  all  the  tumult  was  occasioned  by  a 
few  drunkards.  Those  trampled  to  death  had  no 
business  to  be  before  the  Bank  at  all,  and  were  in 
no  distress.  One  of  them  had  a  hundred  crowns 
in  his  pockets,  and  among  those  arrested  for  making 
a  disturbance  none  were  without  money.  The 
Palais  Royal  was  broken  into  by  some  wretches  who 
hate  my  poor  son '^ 

*'Paris,  July  21st,  1720. 

'*  Money  becomes  scarcer  every  day,  but  we  have 
plenty  of  falseness,  malice,  meanness  and  ambition 

*  Three  men  were  trampled  to  death  before  the  bank  during  the 
panic, 


MOTHER   OF  PHILIPPE  D'ORLEJNS,     305 

to  make  up  for  what  we  lack.  It  is  enough  to 
weary  one  of  life.  The  women  here,  jealous  of 
their  husbands,  are  so  by  ambition,  not  excess  of 
love,  for  they  all  wish  to  govern.  There  is  not 
a  scullion  wlio  does  not  think  herself  capable  of 
governing  the  State  ;  so  when  the  women  find  that 
tliey  liave  no  empire  over  their  husbands  they  be- 
come furious.  Tlie  wisest  way  is  to  love  one's 
husband  reasonably  and  dutifully,  but  not  with 
passion;  to  live  with  him  peacefully  and  kindly, 
and  not  to  trouble  one's  self  on  account  of  his 
conduct.  Li  this  way  the  husband  and  wife  remain 
good  friends,  and  harmony  resides  in  the  house- 
hold." 

To  THE  Princess  of  Wales. 

"  Saint  Cloud,  Aug.  2nd,  1720. 

"  The  Prince  and  Princess  (of  Modena)  are  very 
fond  of  one  another,  but  it  seems  that  they  make 
fun  of  the  old  father." 

"  Saint  Cloud,  Aug.  4th,  1720. 

"  You  are  wrong  to  think  that  I  never  sing  the 
Lutheran  psalms  and  hymns ;  on  the  contrary  I  often 
do  so,  and  find  them  a  great  consolation 

*'  There  are  but  few  ancient  medals  that  I  do 
not  possess  in  my  collection.  I  have  already  nine 
liundrcd  of  them.  I  began  with  two  hundred  and 
fifty,  whicli  I  bougiit  a  long  time  ago.  Tliey  had 
been  stolen  from  the  Duke  of  Savoy,*  so  I  wrote 

*  Afterwards  King  of  Sardinia. 


3o6 


LIFE  AND   LETTERS   OF  THE 


to  the  present  Queen  of  Sardinia  and  offered  to 
return  them  to  her  husband.  She  answered  that 
the  King  would  be  enchanted  if  I  consented  to 
keep  them.  I  had  them  as  a  good  bargain,  for  I 
had  bought  them  by  weight,  and  there  were  some 
very  rare  specimens  among  them." 

"Saint  Cloud,  Aug.  fitli,  1720. 

^^  Nobody  heard  what  the  King  said  to  the  old 
woman  on  his  death-bed.  She  went  off  to  Saint 
Cyr,  and  though  brought  back  did  not  even  then 
stay  till  the  end.  I  feel  sure  that  the  King  heartily 
repented  of  his  folly  in  marrying  her.  Indeed, 
notwithstanding  all  her  efforts,  he  never  publicly 
acknowledged  the  marriage.  Although  she  wept 
bitterly  when  told  of  the  King's  death  she  did  not 
really  feel  it  as  she  ought  to  have  done " 

'•  Saint  Cloud,  Aug.  8tli,  1720. 

^^  I  can  neither  speak  well  or  ill  of  Law's  system, 
for  I  do  not  understand  it  in  the  least.  All  that  I 
can  see  is  that  it  results  in  all  sorts  of  trouble 
and  annoyance  for  my  son,  so  I  wish  that  the  whole 

affair  had  never  been  heard  off There  is 

still  a  great  deal  of  solid  money  in  France,  but  each 
hides  his  through  malice,  and  refuses  to  put  it  into 
business.  No  one  minds  M.  Law's  regulations  on 
this  subject. 

*'None  wish  for  war  here.  All  care  above  all  for 
luxury,  which  has  never  been  carried  to  such  a 
pitch  as  at  the  present  time.  We  shall  see  what  all 
this  will  result  in " 


MOTHER   OF  PHILIPPE  D'ORLEANS.     307 

"  Saint  Cloud,  Aug.  13th,  1720. 

^'  Law  is  in  such  a  state  of  terror  that  he  refused 
to  go  to  Saint  Cloud  to  join  my  son,  although  the 
latter  had  sent  him  his  own  coacli.  Tlie  malice  of 
my  son's  enemies  does  not  diminish.  All  kinds  of 
horrible  pamphlets  are  being  distributed  about  him. 
I  cannot  understand  why  lie  does  not  severely 
punish  their  insolence,  but  he  is  the  most  good- 
natured  of  men." 


To  the  Rauuravine  Louise. 

"Paris,  Aug.  loth,  1720. 

*'  The  Parisians  are  the  best  people  in  the  world, 
and  if  the  Parliament  was  not  in  existence  they 
would  never  have  risen  against  lawful  authority. 
The  poor  jDCople  touched  me  deeply,  for  they  only 
cried  out  against  Law,  not  at  all  against  my  son ; 
and  when  I  went  through  the  mob  in  my  coach,  I 
heard  blessings  from  all  sides.  This  moved  me  so 
much  that  I  could  not  lielp  crying.  It  is  not  at 
all  strange  that  I  am  more  popular  than  my  son,  for 
his  enemies  are  unceasingly  working  against  him. 
They  make  him  pass  for  a  tyrant  and  freethinker, 
whilst  he  is  the  best  of  men  and  only  too  generous. 

^'  I  never  could  understand  M.  Law's  system.  I 
always  believed,  however,  that  no  good  would 
come  of  it.  I  find  it  difficult  to  liide  my  thoughts, 
so  I  frankly  told  my  son.  He  said  that  I  was  in 
error,  and  tried  to  explain  the  thing  to  me ;  but 
the  more  he  explained,  the  less  I  could  understand 
anything  about  it." 

x2 


3o8 


LIFE  AND   LETTERS   OF  THE 


''  PARrs,  Aug.  ICth,  1720. 

^'  I  think  that  our  Princess  of  Modena  must  be 
very  happy  if  Salvatico  is  really  in  love  with  her, 
for  as  he  is  in  constant  communication  with  people 
here,  he  is  able  to  inform  her  of  all  that  goes  on  in 
her  native  country " 

"  Salvatico  is  one  of  the  greatest  fools  in  exis« 
tence.  He  is  a  great  favourite  of  the  Duke  of 
Modena,  which  shows  the  truth  of  the  old  German 
proverb :  ^  like  flics  to  like,  said  the  Devil  to  the 
chimney  sweep.' 

"  Saint  Cloud,  Aug.  18tli,  1720. 

*^  All  is  still  calm  here,  but  M.  Law  no  longer 
dares  go  out.  The  Women  of  the  Halles  *  have 
placed  little  boys  round  his  house  as  spies,  to  be 
told  the  moment  he  leaves.  This  is  a  bad  look-out 
for  him,  and  I  fear  some  fresh  rising." 

"  Saint  Cloud,  Aug.  21st,  1720. 

"  I  have  never  yet  met  a  Scotchman  or  an  English- 
man so  cowardly  as  is  M.  Law.  Fortune  destroys 
courage.  One  does  not  easily  abandon  what  one 
possesses  of  the  goods  of  this  world.  I  think  that 
there  are  moments  when  he  must  wish  to  lind  him- 
self at  the  Mississippi  or  in  Louisiana. 

^'  It  thunders  daily,  but  no  real  harm  is  done  to 
man  or  beast ;  yet  curious  things  happen.  It  took 
every  hair  off  a  man's  body  without  hurting  him. 
It  broke  the  belt  of  a  sword  which  an  officer  had 


A  corporation  of  Paris  market-women. 


MOTHER    OF   PHILIPPE  D^ORLEANS.    309 

buckled  to  his  side  without  wounding  him.  An 
officer  belonging  to  the  Invalides  was  wearing  a 
blue  coat  trimmed  with  silver  buttons  and  a  silver 
buckle.  The  lightning  took  off  the  buttons  and 
buckle  without  damaging  the  stuff.  Here  the 
peasantry  attribute  the  lightning  to  sorcerers  and 
witches " 

To  THE  Princess  of  Wales. 

"  Saint  Cloud,  Ang.  22nd,  1720. 

'^  When  the  Duke  of  Mecklenburg  was  silent 
and  he  was  asked  of  what  he  was  thinking,  he 
would  answer,  '  I  am  giving  an  audience  to  my 
thoughts.'  His  second  wife  could  have  done  so 
more  worthily,  for  she  was  far  cleverer.  This 
Prince  was  a  singular  personage.  He  was  courteous, 
understood  business,  and  could  argue  reasonably ; 
but  he  was  as  simple  as  a  child  of  six  years  old  in 
all  his  actions.  He  once  complained  to  me  of 
something.  I  remained  silent.  He  asked  me  why 
I  did  not  say  something.  I  answered  roughly  that 
though  he  discoursed  well,  his  actions  were  not  in 
keeping  with  his  words^  and  that  his  conduct  was 
so  ridiculous  that  he  was  laughed  at  from  one  end 
of  France  to  the  other.  This  angered  him,  and 
drove  him  away  in  a  very  bad  humour. 

^^  He  once  asked  the  late  King  for  an  audience, 
which  was  immediately  granted.  As  soon  as  he 
found  himself  alone  witli  the  King,  he  remarked, 
'  Sire,  I  find  you  much  grown  since  I  had  the 
pleasure  of  last  seeing  you.'      The  King  replied, 


m^s^s^^ 


310 


LIFE   JND   LETTERS   OF  THE 


'  I  am  no  longer  of  an  age  to  grow,'  (he  was  five 
and  thirty).  The  Duke  answered,  '  Eh,  Sire  !  you 
are  looking  very  well.  All  the  world  says  that  I 
am  astoundingly  like  you,  and  even  better  looking.' 
The  King  began  laughing  and  .replied,  '  That  is 
quite  possible."  Whereupon  the  other  departed. 
Was  not  this  a  fine  audience  ?  " 

"  Paris,  Sept.  5tb,  1720. 

^^  All  is  quiet  here,  though  many  are  complaining, 
and  serious  troubles  may  break  out  any  moment. 

"The    Queen    of    Prussia   has   told   me    of   the 
explosion  of  their  powder  magazine,  but  she  does 
not  say  whether  she  was  frightened  or  not.     Yet 
all  the  palace  windows  were  broken.     This  reminds 
me  of  an  adventure  which  happened  to  Mme.  de 
Durfort,  one  of  my  ladies.     She  was  sister  to  the 
Marechal  de  Duras,  Governor  of  Besan(]on.     This 
brother  of  hers  had  a  garden  full  of  statues,  among 
which  was  Jupiter.      This  statue  the  King  after- 
wards bought  and  placed  at  Versailles  *     Mme.  de 
Durfort,  finding  herself  alone  in  her  brother's  gar- 
den, stopped  a  moment  before  this  statue,  and  thus 
addressed  it,  'Well,    Monsieur  Jupiter,  they  say 
that  you  once  spoke ;  we  are  alone,  your  mouth  is 
open,  so  to  speak  to  me.'     As  she  was  finishing 
these  words,  a  powder  mill  near  exploded  with  a 
terrible   noise.     Mme.    de   Durfort,  believing    that 
Jupiter  was  answering  her,  was  so  frightened,  that 


*  Thip  statuo  of  Jupiter  is  still  at  Versailles, 


MOTHER  OF  PHILIPPE  D^ORLEJNS.      311 

she  lost  consciousness,  and  had  to  be  carried  away 
from  the  garden " 

"  Saint  Cloud,  Sept.  6th,  1720. 

''  I  have  received  during  the  last  few  days  several 
anonymous  letters  threatening  to  burn  me  here,  and 
my  son  at  the  Palais  Royal.  My  son  never  speaks 
or  tells  me  a  word  of  what  is  going  on  round  us. 
In  this  he  follows  the  example  of  his  father,  who 
used  to  say,  '  All  is  well  as  long  as  Madame  does 
not  know  it.' " 

«  Paris,  Sept.  20th,  1720. 

*^  Three  days  ago  I  received  another  anonymous 
letter,  the  contents  of  which  caused  me  much  merri- 
ment. It  counselled  me  to  cause  my  son  to  be  shut 
up  as  being  a  lunatic,  and  assured  me  that  that  was 
the  only  way  to  save  his  life 

*'  My  son  has  already  slept  several  times  at  the 
Tuileries ;  but  I  fear  that  the  King  will  never  be- 
come accustomed  to  his  presence,  for  my  son  has 
never  known  how  to  win  children ;  he  does  not  like 
them." 

To  THE  Raugravine  Louise. 

"Paris,  Oct.  3rd,  1720. 

''  The  irregularity  of  the  post,  my  dear  Louise, 
is  due  to  M.  de  Torcy's  dislike  of  me  and  to  the 
Archbishop  of  Cambrai's  curiosity.  The  latter 
wishes  to  know  all  I  write,  and  as  they  cannot  make 
my  son  quarrel  with  me  they  try  to  set  others 
against  me.  They  told  the  Marechal  de  Villeroi 
that  I  had  written  to  my  daughter  that  he  and  all 


312 


LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF  THE 


those  said  to  belong  to  the  old  Court  were  my  son's 
enemies.  I  answered  coldly,  '  It  is  true  that  I  wrote 
thus  to  my  daughter,  and  I  wrote  the  truth,  for  the 
ambassador  of  Spain's  letters  alone  prove  it." 

To  THE  Princess  of  Wales. 

"  Paris,  Oct.  4th,  1720. 

'*My  son  was  much  beloved,  but  since  the  advent 
of  that  accursed  Law,  he  has  been  hated.  Hardly  a 
week  passes  but  I  receive  by  post  letters  filled  with 
terrible  threats,  and  where  my  son  is  spoken  of 
as  the  greatest  monster  and  tyrant 

^^A  certain  preacher  said  in  one  of  his  sermons 
that  tlie  Last  Judgment  would  take  place  in  the 
Valley  of  Josaphat.  Someone  thereupon  tried  to 
prove  to  him  that  there  would  not  be  enough  room. 
He  answered,  '  Not  at  all ;  tliose  who  cannot  enter 
will  remain  outside.'  " 

*'  Paris,  Nov.  9tli,  1720. 

'^  The  Mississippi  is  the  cause  of  as  many  troubles 
in  Paris  as  is  the  South  Sea  in  London.  Last  week 
a  man  jumped  from  a  window  and  broke  his  neck. 
I  would  not  be  in  Law's  skin  for  worlds.  He  has  too 
much  to  answer  for  before  God.  If  the  French 
take  it  into  their  heads  to  imitate  tlie  English 
fashion  of  destroying  oneself,  as  many  will  perish 
as  during  the  Plague,  for  everything  quickly  spreads 
in  this  country.  Tlie  Baron  Gory  wrote  me  lately 
that  the  Kings  of  England  and  Prussia  had  made 
up  their  minds  to  interfere  on  behalf  of  the  in- 
habitants of  the  Palatinate.    A  Sovereign  ought  not 


MOTHER  OF  PHILIPPE  D' ORLEANS.      313 

to  dislike  his  subjects.  He  ought  on  the  contrary  to 
care  for  them  as  a  father,  otherwise  he  must  account 
for  it  before  God. 

'^  I  have  seen  a  Genoese  prophecy,  saying  that 
in  the  year  1727  the  world  will  be  entirely  destroyed 
and  burnt  up  to  such  an  extent  that  it  will  become 
a  globe  of  glass. 

**  I  forget  if  I  sent  you  a  certain  song  about  the 
Archbishop  of  Cambrai.*  I  can  sincerely  assure 
you  that  I  do  not  know  a  greater  rogue,  nor  one 
more  false.  What  troubles  me  exceedingly  is,  that 
my  son,  who  knows  him  as  well  as  I  do,  only  listens 
to  and  favours  this  little  devil." 

Madame's  intense  dislike  to  the  Abb(3  Dubois  was 
well  known  to  everybody  in  the  Regent's  Court, 
and  Saint  Simon  says  that  on  being  first  informed  of 
her  son's  Regency,  ^^ Madame,  overjoyed,  embraced 
the  Regent  warmly,  and  said  that  she  had  but  one 
thing  to  ask  of  him,  namely,  to  give  up  having 
anything  to  do  with  the  Abbe  Dubois,  who  was 
the  greatest  rogue  and  rascal  on  the  face  of  this 
earth." 

On  his  appointment  to  the  Archbishopric  of 
Cambrai  these  verses  were  sung  all  over  Paris : 

"  Je  suis  du  bois  dont  on  fait  les  cuistres, 
Et  cuistre  je  fus  autrefois, 
Mais  u  present  je  suis  du  bois 
Dont  on  fait  les  Ministres." 


*  The  infamous  Abbe  Dubois,  wbo  is  now  known  to  liavc  exer- 
cised an  evil  influence  on  both  the  public  and  private  life  of  the 
Kcgent. 


3H 


LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF  THE 


His  influence  over  the  Regent  was  unbounded. 
This  was  probably  owing  to  the  fact  that  he  had 
at  one  time  been  his  tutor. 

To  THE  Princess  of  Wales. 

"  November  20tli,  1720. 

*^  The  Princesse  de  Siegen  must  surely  be  more 
agreeable  in  manner  than  is  her  husband,  a  sadly 
tiresome  personage,  whom,  the  Lord  be  praised,  I 
have  not  seen  for  a  Jong  time.     He  once  came  and 
told  me  that  I  ought  to  support  and  uphold  him  to 
the  best  of  my  power.     I  asked  him  the  reason. 
He  replied  that  it  was  because  he  was  a  Roman 
Catholic,  and  therefore  preferable  to  all  the  other 
Princes  of  the  House  of  Nassau,  who  were  Hugue- 
nots. I  began  laugliing,  and  assured  him  his  religion 
was  his  own  business,  not  mine ;    also  that  I  had 
always  greatly  esteemed  the  House  of  Nassau,  and 
that  I  thought  equally  well  of  all  of  them,  whatever 
might  be  their  religions.     He  became  as  red  as  fire 
and  withdrew,  much  ashamed " 

"  Paris,  Nov.  23rd,  1720. 

''  My  aunt,  our  dear  Electress,  being  once  at  the 
Hague,  did  not  visit  the  Princess  Royal,*  but  the 
Queen  of  Bohemia  f  did  so,  and  took  me  with  her. 
Before  starting  my  aunt  said  to  me,  '  Lisette,  do 
not  behave  in  your  usual  flighty  manner.     Follow 

*  Mary  Henrietta,  ilaugliter  of  Charles  I.,  married,  in  1G50,  to 
AVilliam  of  Nassau,  Prince  of  Orange, 
t  Elizabeth  Stuart,  daughter  of  James  I. 


MOTHER   OF  PHILIPPE  D'ORLEJNS.     315 

the  Queen  step  by  step  so  as  not  to  cause  her  to 
wait  for  you.'  I  answered,  '  Oh  !  my  honoured 
aunt  will  hear  how  well  I  have  comported  myself.' 

"When  we  arrived  at  the  Princess  Royal's  I 
found  her  son,  with  whom  I  had  often  played. 
After  gazing  at  his  mother  for  a  long  time,  for  I 
did  not  know  her  in  the  least,  I  turned  round  to 
the  Prince  of  Orange  and  said,  '  Tell  me,  I  pray 
you,  the  name  of  that  woman  with  so  strange  a 
nose  ?  '  He  burst  out  laughing  and  replied,  '  It  is 
the  Princess  Royal,  my  mother.'  I  was  astounded 
and  remained  stupefied.  To  console  me  Frau  Von 
Heyde  took  myself  and  the  Prince  into  the  Princess 
Royal's  bed-chamber,  where  we  played  at  many 
games.  I  had  asked  to  be  informed  when  the 
Queen  was  about  to  leave.  We  were  rolling  to- 
gether on  a  Turkey  carpet  when  I  was  called. 
I  jumped  up  and  ran  into  the  hall,  but  the  Queen 
was  already  in  the  ante-cham.ber.  So,  having 
always  been  a  bold  child,  I  pulled  the  Princess 
Royal  by  the  gown,  made  her  a  pretty  curtsey, 
and  followed  the  Queen  step  by  step  to  the  coach. 
Every  one  was  laughing,  I  know  not  why.  When 
we  arrived  home,  the  Queen  went  straight  to  my 
aunt  and  sat  down  on  her  bed ;  then  bursting  out 
laugliing  she  exclaimed,  '  Lisette  has  made  a  fine 
visit,'  and  told  her  what  had  passed.  Our  dear 
Electress  laughed  even  more  heartily  than  the 
Queen,  and  said,  '  Well  done,  Lisette  !  You  have 
revenged  us  on  this  haughty  Princess '." 


i 


I 


316  LIFE   AND   LETTERS   OF  THE 

'*  Paris,  Dec.  24tl),  1720. 

'''  M.  Law  is  in  Brussels.  Mme.  de  Prie  lent  him 
her  post-chaise.  When  sending  it  back  he  wrote 
to  thank  her,  and  sent  her  a  ring  worth  a  hundred 
thousand  francs.  The  Duke  provided  the  relays 
and  sent  four  of  his  own  servants  witli  him  all  the 
way " 

"  Paris,  December  27th.  1720. 

When  saying  goodbye  to  my  son,  Law  said  to 
luiu,  '  I  have  committed  great  faults,  Monseigneur, 
but  you  will  neither  find  malice  nor  dishonestv  in 
my  conduct.'  His  wife  refuses  to  leave  Paris  till 
all  their  debts  are  paid.  They  owe  ten  thousand 
francs  to  their  cook  alone  * " 

"Paris,  Dec.  28tli,  1720. 

''The  Princesses  are  so  badly  brought  up  in  this 
country  that  it  has  become  a  public  scandal.  A  little 
care  would  make  it  all  otherwise,  for  my  daughters, 
whom  I  brought  up  carefully,  are  as  different  as 
possible.  No  princesses  in  Euroj)e  get  on  better 
with  their  husbands  than  the  Queen  of  Sardinia  f 
and  the  Duchess  of  Lorraine.  J  But  when  children 
are  allowed  to  have  their  own  way  from  seven  to 
twenty,  nothing  but  ill  can  result  from  it.  As 
for  myself,  I  have  done  mj  duty;   I  will  no  longer 

*  Law  retired  to  Venice,  where  lie  died  in  1729. 

t  Madame's   step-daugliter,  daugliter    of    Henrietta    IMaria    of 
■fcingland. 

t  Madame's  own   and  only  dauolitcr,   married  to   the  Duke  of 
Lorraine. 


MOTHER   OF    PHILIPPE  D' ORLEANS.    317 

trouble  myself  about  my  grandchildren.  Let  them 
behave  in  their  own  way.  My  son  married  against 
my  wishes^  and  I  should  be  very  foolish  to  afflict 
myself  on  account  of  all  that  followed.  For  the 
remainder  of  my  life  I  mean  to  live  in  peace  and 
amity  with  all  these  people,  and  not  mix  myself  up 
in  any  way  with  their  affairs " 


Though  by  no  means  an  old  woman,  Madame 
seems  to  have  had  a  presentiment  that  the  sands  of 
her  life  had  nearly  run  out.  On  the  1st  day  of  the 
new  year  (1721),  she  writes  to  the  Raugravine 
Louise : 

''  I  am  becoming  very  feeble,  and  can  hardly 
hold  my  pen.  But  what  can  be  done  to  increase  my 
strength  ?  I  think  that  I  shall  end  by  being  quite 
dried  up,  as  did  that  tortoise  that  I  once  had  at 
Heidelburg.  But  as  long  as  I  live,  dear  Louise, 
you  may  be  sure  that  I  cherish  3^ou  in  my 
heart." 

On  the  twentieth  of  February  we  catch  a  glimpse 
of  the  young  Louis  XV.  and  an  allusion  to  the 
separation  of  the  Prince  and  Princesse  Charles  de 
Lorraine,  an  affair  which  excited  much  comment 
and  interest  at  the  time. 

"Paris,  Feb.  20th,  1720. 

*'  The  day  before  yesterday  I  was  honoured  by  a 
visit  from  the  little  King.  Among  those  who  came 
with  him  was  Prince  Charles  of  Lorraine  and  the 


i 


i 


■  1 

'X 


3«8  LIFE  AND   LETTERS  OF  THE 

Due  de  NoaiUes,  who  glared  angrily  at  the  former. 
I  did  not  then  know  the  reason  of  these  angry  looks, 
but  yesterday  I  learnt  all  about  it.     Two  years  ago 
I'rince  Charles  married  the  Due  de  Noailles'  daughter. 
•  .  .  .  She  IS  a  very  virtuous  and  sweet  woman, 
and  much  attached  to  her  husband,  who  is  a  re- 
markably handsome  man  .  .  .  yet  he  affected  com- 
plete  indifference  to  her,  although  she  is  botii  pretty 
and    well-behaved.       Tim    day   before    yesterday 
morning,    Prince   Charies    went  to   her  and   said 
quietly,   '  Madame,  the  time  has   come   when   we 
must  separate,  for  I  can  no  longer  afford  to  keep 
you.'       The    poor    little   wife,    much    frightened, 
replied,   '  Is  there  anything  in  my  conduct  which 
displeases  you  ?  If  there  is,  pray  tell  me,  and  I  will 
try  and  amend  my  manners.     As  for  the  expense  of 
my  keep,  I  will  consent  to  live  in  a  garret,  and  on 
bread  and  water,  rather  than  separate  from  you. 
To  this  he  observed,  'I  am  quite  satisfied  with  your 
conduct,  and  have  nothing  to  complain  of  in  your 
manners,  but  I  may  as  well  tell  you  once  for  all 
that  you  inspire  me  with  aversion.     I  detest  the 
sight  of  you,  so  you  must  resign  yourself  to  goin- 
back  to    your  father.'     She  then  began   weepin- 
bitterly,  but   he   only  said,   '  What  is  the  use    oi 
shedding  these  tears,  they  do  not  move  me  in  the 
least,  so  do  go  away.'      '  Nay,'  said  she,  '  if  it  be 
indeed  as  you  say,  I  cannot  go  back  to  my  father's 
house,  but  must  go  and  hide  my  shame  in  some 
secret  place.'       Thereupon   she   sent  for  all    her 


MOTHER  OF  PHILIPPE  D'ORLEANS.       319 

servants  and  paid  them  their  wages,  to  their  great 
dismay  and  grief,  then  sent  for  a  coach  and  had 
herself  driven  to  the  convent  of  the  Daughters  of 
Holy  Mary,  where  one  of  her  aunts  is  a  nun. 
Everybody  expresses  the  greatest  compassion  for 
her,  and  as  for  me,  I  could  not  help  shedding  tears 
when  I  heard  her  sad  story  related.  No  one  can 
account  for  the  Prince's  conduct  in  this  matter,  for 
his  behaviour  was  all  that  could  be  wished  before 
his  marriage  took  place.  Some  aver  that  he  was 
once  in  love  with  a  married  lady  who  has  just 
become  a  widow,  and  that  it  is  owing  to  lier  in- 
fluence that  he  thus  treated  his  poor  wife " 

And  a  few  days  later,  Madame  tells  another  story 
which  made  a  great  scandal  at  the  time,  and  was 
never  really  accounted  for  satisfactorily,  being  pro- 
bably a  heartless  joke,  perpetrated  by  some  of  the 
Regent's  roues : 

"A  terrible  thing  occurred  on  the  17tli  of  this 
month  at  a  masked  ball,  which  took  ])lace  in  Paris. 
Six  dominoes  arrived,  two  bearing  torches,  and 
four  a  sedan  chair.  This  they  set  down  in  the 
middle  of  the  room.  On  being  asked  by  several 
present,  Avho  was  inside  the  sedan  chair,  they 
refused  to  answer  and  departed.  Then  some  one 
opened  the  door,  and  there  sat  a  corpse " 

"Paris,  March  8tli,  1721. 

*'  My  son  is  very  good  to  me  and  shows  me  much 
affection.       I    believe    that    he    would   be   really 


i 


t 

I 


■ 


320 


LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF  THE 


grieved  to  lose  me.  His  visits  do  me  far  more 
good  than  does  the  jihysic  I  am  ordered  to  take, 
for  they  rejoice  my  heart  and  do  not  give  me 
pains  in  my  stomacli,  and  he  always  tells  me  some- 
thing funny,  which  makes  me  laugh.  He  is  so  witty 
and  agreeable.  I  should  be  indeed  an  unnatural 
mother  did  I  not  love  him  with  my  whole  heart. 
If  you  knew  him  you  would  see  how  entirely 
free  he  is  from  malice  and  ambition.  Ah  !  he  is 
only  too  good !  He  forgives  everybody  and  docs 
nothing  but  laugli  at  his  enemies.  If  he  made  him- 
self more  feared  by  his  wicked  relations,  they 
would  hesitate  before  beo:innino:  their  machinations 
against  him.  You  cannot  figure  to  yourself  the  spite 
and  personal  ambition  of  our  Princes " 

"  Paris,  April  12tli,  1721. 

*'  We  have  just  been  informed  of  the  death  of 
the  Queen  of  Denmark.  I  shall  go  into  mourning 
to-morrow,  but  only  wear  it  a  month.  They  say 
that  the  King  of  Denmark  was  much  troubled,  and 
fainted  after  the  Queen  had  bidden  him  adieu.  This 
grief  comes  rather  late  in  the  day.  Perhaps  the 
poor  Queen  had  no  reason  to  be  so  jealous  of  her 
husband.  In  her  place  I  sliould  have  been  only  too 
glad  to  have  occasionally  got  rid  of  him ;  he  was  so 
ugly  and  stupid.  I  think  that  I  see  him  now 
dancing  at  Versailles  with  my  daughter.  Ho  hardly 
seemed  to  know  what  he  was  doing,  and  kept  open- 
ing his  mouth  and  staring  round  him.  The  King 
said  to  me,  '  Do  go  to  your  poor  nephew's  assist- 


MOTHER  OF  PHILIPPE  D^ ORLEANS.     321 

ance ;  he  does  not  seem  to  understand  what  he  is 
about.'  Feeling  quite  ashamed  I  went  and  brought 
him  back  to  his  place " 

Writing  a  few  days  anterior  to  the  last  letter  we 
have  given,  to  her  old  friend's  husband,  Herr  von 
Harling,  Madame  says — 

^'I  am  beginning  to  feel  my  seventy  years  of  life 

creeping  over  me  and  should  my  life  continue  to  be 

harassed  with  fears  for  my  son's  safety  I  shall  soon 

be  in  a  position  to  tell  you  how  things  are  managed 

in  the  next  world.     I  must  have  had  a  very  good 

constitution  to  have  resisted  thus  far  to   all   my 

troubles,  but   as   says   truly    the   French   proverb, 

'  The  pitcher  which  is  always  going  to  the  well  gets 

broken  at  last,'  and  this  is  what  will  happen  to  me. 

But  this  does  not  trouble  me  much,  for  we  know 

that  we  are  only  sent  into  this  world  to  die.     I  do 

not  see  the  advantage  of  living  to  a  great  age,  for 

in   that  case   one   becomes  infirm  and  has  much 

suffering  to  bear,  and  where  physical  suffering  is 

concerned  I  am  a  great  coward." 

To  THE  Raugravine  Louise. 

"  Paris,  May  3rd,  1721. 

''  Where  eating  and  drinking  are  concerned  I  am 
a  thorough  German,  and  have  been  so  all  my  life. 
They  do  not  know  how  to  fry  things  properly  here. 
The  butter  and  milk  are  not  as  good  Jiere  as  in  our 
country.  They  have  no  taste  and  are  as  insipid  as 
clear  water 


i 


i 


322 


LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF  THE 


"  The  cabbages  are  not  good  either,  owing  to  tlie 
earth  being  sandy  and  poor  in  substance.  Ah! 
how  glad  I  should  be  to  partake  of  some  of  the 
dishes  your  cook  makes  for  you  !  They  would  be 
more  to  my  taste  than  all  the  fine  things  concocted 
by  my  maUre  cVhotel " 

The  following*  dinner  ordered  and  eaten  by 
Madame,  and  the  prices  she  paid  for  everything  of 
which  it  was  composed  may  interest  the  reader — 

Dinner. 

"  Sonp,  composed  of  chicken-broth  and  veal,  10  livres,  9  sols  " 
(about  eight  shillings). 

"  Two  boiled  chickens,  served  in  vermicelli,  22  sols  "  (about  one 

shilling). 

"  Duck  and  cabbage,  44  sols"  (about  one  shilling  and  tenpence). 

Even  making  due  allowance  for  the  difference  in 
the  value  of  money,  Versailles  prices  must  have 
altered  considerably  since  the  days  when  the  King's 
sister-in-law  could  procure  a  good  dinner  for  about 
eleven  shillings,  comprising  three  chickens  and  a 

duck. 

Although  Madame  never  saw  her  prophesy  ful- 
filled, she  foresaw  the  ignominious  retreat  in  1734,  to 
France,  of  her  third  granddaughter,  Mdlle.  de  Valois, 
whose  marriage  to  the  hereditary  Prince  of  Modena 
had  caused  so  much  rejoicing  in  the  Regent's  family 
in  1720. 

*  Taken  from  a  curious  work  by  Monteil,  Materiaux  Inedits  pour 
VHistotre. 


MOTHER  OF  PHILIPPE  D^ORLEJNS,     323 


"Paris,  May  8th,  1721. 

^'I  hear  that  things  are  not  going  on  well  at 
Modena.  I  expect  that  we  shall  one  day  see  our 
Princess  coming  back  to  us. 

'^  I  do  not  at  all  consider  it  a  misforfune  for 
Princess  Anne  to  have  missed  marrying  the  King 
of  Denmark.  He  also  could  say  as  does  the  modest 
Chevalier^  '  Slie  who  fails  to  catch  me  is  not  much 
to  be  pitied.'  He  is  not  only  ugly  and  unj^leasant 
in  person,  but  his  manners  are  also  far  from  pre- 
possessing  

''  The  Margrave  of  Bayreuth  and  his  wife  are  a 
singular  couple.  Their  Court  is  also  a  strange  place. 
It  is  evident  that  a  state  governed  by  a  prince  who 
only  thinks  of  himself  and  his  evil  passions  must  be 
in  a  disordered  condition.  Both  the  husband  and 
wife  may  truly  be  called  crazy.  They  hardly  know 
what  they  are  doing." 

"Paris,  June  25th,  1721. 

*^  It  was  not  the  Duke  and  Duchess  of  Simmern's 
fault  that  I  did  not  go  to  Cractznach,  for  they  sent 
me  a  warm  invitation,  but  my  father,  the  Elector, 
forbade  it,  saying  that  it  was  not  fitting  for  a 
young  and  unmarried  princess,  as  I  then  was,  to 
gad  about  and  visit  strange  Courts 

''When  I  first  knew  the  Duke  of  Simmern, 
he  had  already  married  Princess  Mary  of  Orange, 
and  so  was  out  of  the  question  as  a  possible  hus- 
band. I  bore  him  a  sincere  affection  as  beino*  his 
cousin  and  friend,  but  should  never  have  cared  to 

y2 


» 


J^  -.H11^<>»?WW 


II 


3H 


LIFE  AND   LETTERS   OF  THE 


have  married  liim,  for  lie  was  small  and  ugly.  .  .  . 
I  was  then  quite  of  age  to  be  married,  for  the  Duke 
has  been  dead  forty-three  years.  God  alone  knows 
when  I  shall  follow  him  ;  but  as  long  as  the  Lord 
w^atches  over  my  children  I  feel  at  peace.  .  . 


3J 


''The  late  Princesse  d'Epinoy  was  a  strange 
woman.  One  night  a  robber  found  his  way  into 
her  apartment,  and  threatened  to  stab  her  with  a 
dagger  if  she  did  not  immediately  give  him  up  all 
her  money.  She  did  not  hesitate  a  moment,  but 
flew  boldly  at  him,  and  seizing  his  neckcloth 
nearly  strangled  him,  screaming  to  her  servants 
meanwhile.  When  they  arrived  she  ordered  the 
robber  to  be  taken  to  the  stables.  '  Only  spare  my 
life ! '  cried  he ;  so  she  had  him  severely  beaten 
and  then  sent  on  his  way " 

"  Paris,  July  19th,  1721. 

*'  There  is  a  vast  difference  between  being  really 
a  native  of  a  country  and  only  learning  the 
language  there  roughly  through  having  arrived 
when  one  was  already  grown  up.  If  your  niece, 
the  Countess  von  Degenfelt,  loves  her  husband,  she 
will  be  pleased  with  everything  round  her,  for  true 
love  is  a  sauce  which  suits  every  dish,  as  says  the 
prologue  in  Fourceaugnac,^ 

*  Quand  deux  cceurs  s*aiment  bien 
Tout  le  reste  n'cst  rien.' 


•  One  of  Moliere's  comedies. 


•  '^^-i  J  - 


MOTHER   OF  PHILIPPE  D'ORLEJNS.     325 

Therefore,  if  she  truly  loves  her  husband  she  will 
not  pine  for  her  own  country,  and  all  that  she  finds 
in  the  new  land  will  be  a  source  of  pleasure  to  her. 
I  quite  approve  of  your  resolution  not  to  go  on 
living  with  her.  You  will  agree  better  when  you 
do  meet,  and  nothing  can  be  truer  than  the  pro- 
verb which  says,  '  The  old  and  the  young  cannot 
hit  it  off  together,'  even  when  the  young  are  reason- 
able ;  again,  the  servants  quarrel  among  them- 
selves, and  this  necessitates  explanations  between 
the  mistresses  who  live  in  the  same  house " 

To  Madame's  just  indignation  the  Abbe  Dubois, 
already  Archbishop  of  Cambrai,  obtained  a  car- 
dinal's hat,  partly  through  the  efforts  of  the 
Duchesse  d'Orleans,  Madame's  daughter-in-law, 
whose  marriage  with  the  then  Due  de  Chartres  he 
had  greatly  helped  to  promote.  Speaking  of  his 
new  dignity,  Madame  writes  to  the  Raugravine: 
"  I  know  of  someone  with  whom  I  cannot  feel  in 
charity,  although  I  would  do  him  no  injury.  I  am 
thinking  of  the  new  Cardinal,  Dubois,  who's  deal- 
ings in  a  certain  matter  *  injured  all  my  later  life. 
I  hope  that  God  will  pardon  him,  but  he  may  have 
his  punishment  in  this  world " 

"  Paris,  Sept.  25th,  1721. 

"  We  are  all  arrayed  in  our  State  robes  to-day, 
for  a  grand  ceremony  is  going  to  take  place  at 

*  Allusion  to  the  Regent's  marriage. 


/ 


'.'.t-. 


326 


LIFE  AND  LETTERS   OF  THE 


\ 


three  o'clock,  namely,  the  reception  of  that  wretch, 
Cardinal  Dubois  ....  I  shall  be  obliged  to  salute 
him  and  mutter  a  few  gracious  words.  This  will  go 
much  against  me,  but  now  pain  and  vexation  com- 
pose the  chief  of  my  diet.  But  I  see  the  Cardinal 
arriving  and  must  make  off.  The  Cardinal  begged 
me  to  forget  the  past,  and  made  me  the  finest 
speech  in  the  world.  His  cleverness  cannot  be 
denied,  and  were  he  as  honest  as  he  is  intelligent 
there  would  be  nothing  left  to  wish  for  in  tliat 
direction." 

The  next  event  in  Madame's  life  was  the 
betrothal  of  her  granddaughter,  Elizabeth  Louise, 
fourth  daughter  of  the  Regent,  officially  styled 
Mdlle.  de  Montpensier,  to  the  Prince  of  Asturias, 
eldest  son  of  the  King  of  Spain. 

This  Princess  was  married  on  the  20th  of 
January  of  the  following  year,  and  became  Queen 
of  Spain  in  1724,  but,  being  widowed  within  the 
same  year,  she  returned  to  France  and  died  in  the 
Palace  of  the  Luxembourg  in  1742. 

Madame  shows  her  pleasure  in  this  marriage  in 
a  few  words  addressed  to  her  half-sister  on  the  2nd 
of  Oct.,  1721 : 

^*  I  can  only  write  you  a  few  lines  this  morn- 
ing, my  dear  Louise,  for  I  am  hastening  to  Paris 
to  congratulate  my  son  and  his  wife  on  the  good 
news  1  have  just  been  told.  The  King  of  Spain 
has  sent  to  ask  them  for  the  hand  of  their  daughter 
for  his  eldest  son,  the  Prince- of  Asturias.     Mdlle. 


MOTHER  OF  PHILIPPE  D'ORLEJNS.       327 


de  Montpensier  has  not  yet  been  christened ;  the 
ceremony  will  be  performed  immediately,  the  King 
and  myself  being  her  sponsors.  She  will  then 
make  her  First  Communion  and  receive  confirma- 
tion, and  will  thus  obtain  three  of  the  sacraments 


together 


j> 


To  THE  Princess  of  Wales. 

"Paris,  Oct.  10th,  1721. 

"  I  only  twice  saw  the  King  raise  his  hand 
against  anyone,  and  the  two  he  chastised  well 
deserved  the  punishment.  The  first  was  a  gardener 
who  tried  to  prevent  His  Majesty  from  passing 
through  into  a  fete  which  was  being  held  in  the 
Rose  Garden  at  Versailles ;  the  King  gave  him  two 
blows.  Tlie  other  was  a  thief  whom  His  Majesty 
caught  in  the  act  of  picking  M.  de  Villar's  pocket. 
Being  at  the  time  on  horseback,  he  rode  up  to  the 
thief  and  struck  him  with  his  whip.  The  man  cried 
out,  '  Murder  !  murder  !  I  am  being  assassinated  !' 
This  made  us  all  laugh  heartily.  The  King  had 
the  rogue  arrested,  but  not  hung  ..." 

"Paris,  Oct.  10th,  1721. 

"  There  is  nothing  wonderful  in  the  Dauphine, 
when  still  Duchesse  de  Burgogne,  having  been  a 
coquette,  for  the  Maintenon  thought  nothing  of 
coquetry,  she  only  disapproved  when  matters  grew 
serious.  Again,  when  the  young  Princess  was  at 
Marly  or  Versailles,  she  was  allowed  to  behave  in 
a  very  flighty  fashion,  running  in  and  out  quite 


M 


,1 


328 


LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF  THE 


\ 


\ 


unaccompanied,  and  mixing  in  church  with  all  the 
common  people.  The  Maintenon  had  forbidden 
everybody  to  inform  the  King  of  all  this,  for 
fear  that  if  he  reproved  the  Dauphine,  she  would 
become  sulky,  and  no  longer  serve  to  enliven  His 
Majesty '' 

To  THE  Raugravine  Louise. 

"  Paris,  Oct.  23rd,  1721. 

"  I  send  you  the  letter  *  I  promised,  from  the 
King  of  Bohemia  f  to  his  wife.  {  It  is  a  curious 
missive : — 

*  Strabach,  this  21st— 31st  of  March,  1632. 

*  My  dearest  Heart, 

'I  received  your  dear  letter  of  the  4th-14th 
March ;  since  then  I  have  not  been  able  to  write 
to  you.  What  troubles  me  not  a  little  is  that  our 
letters  are  so  often  intercepted.  This  prevents  my 
writing  anything  that  all  may  not  read 

^  This  morning  I  went  to  Nuremburg.  I  never 
saw  a  finer  town  nor  one  more  peopled 

*I  fear  that  our  aflfairs  in  the  Palatinate  are  not 
going  on  well.  The  Duke  of  Holstein  informs  me 
that  the  jewels  and  money  belonging  to  our  late 
grandmother  are  to  be  divided  into  five  portions, 
and  that  your  mother's  share  will  be  given  to  the 
King  of  England.     This  would  be  most  unfair.  .  .  . 

*  Written  iu  French. 

t  Frederick  V.,  Elector  Palatine,  Madame's  grandfather. 

\  Elizabeth,  daughter  of  James  I. 


MOTHER  OF  PHILIPPE  D'ORLEJNS.      329 

'  As  for  my  own  affairs,  I  do  not  know  what  to 
say  of  them.  I  hope  to  God  that  all  will  go  well, 
and  that  I  shall  soon  have  the  happiness  of  seeing 
you  and  assuring  you  that  I  am,  my  precious  heart, 
your  very  faithful  friend  and  affectionate  servant, 

'  Frederic' 

'^  The  citizens  of  Nuremburg  have  presented  the 
King  with  two  groups,  forming  the  terrestial  and 
celestial  globes,  strangely  fashioned." 

Describing  Mdlle.  de  Montpensier  just  after  her 
departure  for  the  frontier  of  Spain,  Madame  says 
to  the  Raugravine,  '^  do  not  think  that  Mdlle.  de 
Montpensier  can  be  considered  an  ugly  girl,  for  she 
has  fine  eyes,  white  smooth  skin,  a  pretty  nose,  and 
a  very  small  mouth.  But  she  is  the  most  unpleasant 
creature  I  ever  saw  in  my  life.  The  manner  in 
which  she  speaks,  eats,  and  drinks,  gets  on  my 
nerves,  and  she  did  not  shed  a  single  tear  in  quitting 
us  here.  I  have  witnessed  two  of  my  relatives,  and 
now  my  granddaughter,  become  Queens  of  Spain. 
Of  these  my  favourite  was  my  stepdaughter,  whom 
I  loved  dearly,  for  when  I  first  arrived  in  France 
she  was  my  closest  friend,  being  only  nine  years 
younger  than  myself.  I  remember  that  we  were 
all  so  childislily  inclined  that  we  used  to  play 
games  with  Charles  Louis  and  the  young  Prince 
d'Eisenach.  .  .  .  ."  ( 

*'  Paris,  Nov.  22nd,  1721. 

"  What  you  say  as  to  these  times  and  my  present 


t 


t 


330 


LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF  THE 


position,  shows  me  how  little  you  understand  this 
Court  and  people.  Would  to  God  that  the  late 
Kinc:  were  still  here !  Durino:  his  lifetime  I  had 
more  to  pleasure  me  in  the  course  of  one  day  than 
I  have  had  during  the  six  years  of  my  son's  Regency. 
Then,  there  was  really  a  Court.  We  did  not  lead 
this  bourgeois  existence.  I,  who  have  been  ac- 
customed to  a  Court  all  my  life,  cannot  get  used  to 
this  state  of  things.  Once  I  had  my  son  with  me 
whenever  I  wanted  him  ;  now  I  hardly  ever  see  him. 
Even  in  Paris,  where  we  share  the  same  ante- 
chamber, I  often  do  not  perceive  him  for  three 
whole  days.  His  Regency  causes  me  untold 
anguish,  for  I  am  always  thinking  that  he  will  be 
brought  in  assassinated  by  one  of  his  infamous 
enemies " 

"  Paris,  Feb.  21st,  1722. 

^^  Large,  stout  strong  people  live  less  long  than 
small,  mean  personages.  This  has  been  clearly 
proved  by  the  poor  Princesse  de  Ratgotze.  Last 
Sunday  she  was  strong  and  hearty ;  Monday  saw 
her  dead !  They  buried  her  yesterday  in  her  own 
convent.  Her  people  tell  a  most  extraordinary  tale 
about  her.  It  seems  that  when  at  Varsovia  she 
dreamt  one  night  that  she  found  herself  in  an 
unknown  chamber  with  a  stranger,  who  offered  her 
a  cup  and  bade  her  drink.  Not  being  at  all  thirsty 
she  refused ;  but  he  insisted,  saying  that  it  would  be 
the  last  time  she  would  partake  of  anything  in  this 
life ;  then  she  awoke.     She  never  forgot  this  strange 


MOTHER  OF  PHILIPPE  D' ORLEANS,        331 


dream.  On  arriving  here  she  lodged  in  an  inn. 
Feeling  ill  she  sent  for  a  doctor,  and  they  brought 
Helvetius,  one  of  the  King's  pliysicians.  He  is  a 
clever  man,  much  thought  of  by  all.  His  father  was 
a  Dutchman.  On  seeing  him  enter,  the  Princess 
became  greatly  agitated,  and  on  Count  Schlieben 
asking  her  what  was  the  matter,  replied  that  Doctor 
Helvetius  exactly  resembled  a  certain  man  whom  she 
had  seen  in  a  dream  at  Varsovia.  Then  laughing, 
she  added,  '  But  I  shall  not  die  here,  for  this  is  not 
the  apartment  which  I  saw  at  Varsovia.' 

^'  When  she  moved  into  the  convent  at  Chaillot  and 
saw  the  chamber  she  was  destined  to  occupy,  she 
said  to  her  people,  '  I  shall  not  leave  this  place  as  a 
living  woman,  for  this  is  the  apartment  I  saw  in  my 
dream,  and  where  I  shall  drink  for  the  last  time  in 
life.' 

''  And  so  it  happened.  It  seems  to  me  that  these 
adventures  liappen  more  to  those  belonging  to  \\\q 
Hesse  branch  of  the  family  than  to  any  one  else, 
God  alone  knows  only.  We,  of  the  Palatinate,  see 
neitlier  spirits  or  visions " 


m 


To  THE  Princess  of  Wales. 

"  Paris,  March  10th,  1722. 

^^  Prince  Emanuel  of  Portugal's  story  reminds 
one  of  a  romance.  They  say  that  at  first  his 
mother  intended  him  to  become  priest  and  bishop, 
but  that  the  Prince  refused.  They  say  that  he  was 
greatly  in  love  in  his  own  country.     The  King  sent 


I 


332 


LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF  THE 


for  him  and  asked  him  If  it  was  Indeed  true  that  he 
refused  to  take  orders.     The  Prince  answerlnor  that 
it  was  so,  the  King,  I  hear,  gave  him  a  box  on  the 
ear,  to  which  the  Infant  answered,  ^  You  are  my 
King  and  my  brother,  so  I  cannot  revenge  myself 
for  the  insult  you  have  just  given  me,  but  I  shall 
go  away  and  you  Avill  never  see  me  again,'  and  he 
left  that  same  night.     The  King  had  ordered  him 
to  go  from  Paris  to  Holland,  but  little  heed  gave 
he  to  that.     Neither  the  Ambassador  here  nor  his 
Governor  knew   of  all  this,    so   when  the  Prince 
announced  to  them  that  he  was  desirous  of  seelno- 
Marly   and   Versailles,    the    Ambassador   and    the 
governor  did  all  to  pleasure  him,  and  went  with 
him   to   Versailles.      On   their   return   from   their 
expedition   the   Prince  suddenly  asked,   'Is  there 
not   a  post-chaise  here?'     'Yes,'   they  answered, 
'  there   are  even    four   of  them,    your   Highness.' 
Turning    to   the   astonished   Ambassador   he   said 
graciously,  ^  I  wait  for  an  opportunity  of  proving 
to   you  my  friendship  and  gratitude.     I  am  just 
going  to  start  for  Vienna,  where,  no  doubt,   the 
Emperor,  my  cousin,  will  rejceive  me  suitably.     I 
will  learn  the  art  of  war,  fighting  against  the  Turks 
with  his  army.'      He  then  thanked  his   governor 
for  all  his  care  of  him,  and  added  that  were  he  ever 
happy  the  other  should  share  in  his  good  fortune 
were  God  willing.    He  also  spoke  to  all  the  gentle- 
men.    After  this  he  entered  Into  one  of  the  post- 
chaises  and  went  ofi* 


SG 


; ' 


MOTHER  OF  PHILIPPE  D'ORLEJNS.        333 

"  Others  say  (and  this  gives  the  thing  a  finishing 
touch  of  romance)  that  he  had  loved,  in  Portugal, 
Madame  de  Ribiera,  before  the  latter's  marriage, 
and  that  he  had  wished  to  marry  her,  but  that  the 
King,  his  brother,  had  scouted  the  idea.  They  also 
say  that  a  short  time  before  his  leaving  Portugal, 
the  husband  of  the  lady,  who  is  very  jealous,  found 
the  Prince  at  his  wife's  feet.  This  Incident  hastened 
his  departure." 

"Paris,  May  11th,  1722. 

"  The  King  *  had  a  terrible  fear  of  Hell,  and  he 
believed  that  any  one  not  In  favour  with  the 
Jesuits  would  surely  be  damned,  and  that  he  would 
also  be,  if  he  frequented  such  people.  If  one 
wished  to  Injure  any  one  inevitably,  one  had  only 
to  say,  ^  He  is  a  Jansenlst.' 

^^  My  son  once  wished  to  take  a  certain  gentle- 
man Into  his  service.  The  Jesuits,  to  Injure  him  in 
the  King's  estimation,  said  that  the  said  gentleman 
was  a  Jansenlst.  His  Majesty  sent  for  my  son  and 
said  to  him,  'What  Is  this  I  hear?  Are  you 
thinking  of  taking  a  Jansenlst  Into  your  service  ? ' 

^* '  I  ?  '  answered  my  son,  '  I  never  even  thought 
of  such  a  thing ! '  ^  But,'  said  the  King,  ^  you  are 
going  to  take  so-and-so,  whose  mother  is  certainly 
Jansenlst.'  '  As  for  him,'  replied  my  son,  laughing, 
'  far  from  being  Jansenlst,  he  does  not  even  believe 
in  God ! ' 


•  Louis  XIV. 


i 


'>^ 


334 


LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF  THE 


"  '  Oh  !  '  said  the  King,  much  relieved,  '  if  that  is 
all,  take  him  and  welcome/  " 

To  THE  Raugravine  Louise. 

'*  Paris,  May  16tli,  1722. 

"  I  am,  indeed,  grateful  to  you  for  your  prayers, 

though  I  do  not  desire  happiness  in  this  world  as 

long  as  God  protects  my  children ;  but  pray  that 

my  life  beyond  the  grave  may  be  a  happy  one,  and 

also  intercede  for  my  son.     The  only  grace  I  ask 

of  God  is  his  conversion.     I  do  not  believe  that 

there   are   a   hundred   Christians   in  Paris  at  the 

present  moment,  even  amongst  the  clergy.     This 

state  of  things  makes  one  shudder " 

To  the  Princess  op  "Wales. 

'^  Paris,  May  21st,  1722. 

*' After  Monsieur's  death  the  King  asked  me 
where  I  wished  to  go — to  a  Paris  convent  or  to 
Maubuisson.  I  answered  that,  as  I  had  the 
honour  to  belong  to  the  Royal  household,  I  should 
naturally  accompany  it  everywhere,  and  should 
begin  by  going  to  Versailles  with  everyone  else. 
The  King  seemed  pleased  at  my  decision,  though 
he  observed  that  he  had  asked  me  the  question 
because  he  had  reason  to  think  that  I  did  not  care 
to  be  with  him.  I  replied  that  I  could  not  imagine 
who  could  have  told  His  Majesty  anything  so  false 
about  me,  and  that  I  had  certainly  more  affection 
for  him  than  those  who  had  thus  borne  false 
witness  against  me.  Thereupon  the  King  sent 
everyone  away,  and  spoke  with  great  frankness. 


MOTHER  OF  PHILIPPE  D'ORLEJNS.        335 

accusing  me  of  hating  Mme.  de  Maintenon.  I 
owned  that  this  was  true,  but  ascribed  my  hatred 
of  her  to  my  knowledge  of  the  ill  she  worked  me 
with  His  Majesty.  But  I  added,  that  to  pleasure 
him  I  would  consent  to  receive  her,  and  become 
reconciliated  with  her.  The  good  woman  had 
never  thought  that  I  should  act  with  such  wisdom, 
or  she  would  never  have  allowed  the  King  to 
come  near  me.  He  sent  for  her,  and  said, 
*  Madame  has  consented  to  receive  you.'  He 
made  us  embrace  one  another,  and  so  ended  the 
affair.     But   she  continued  injuring  me  in  every 

way  in  her  power As  for  a  convent,  that 

would  not  have  suited  me  at  all ;  but  it  was  just 
what  the  old  woman  hoped  to  oblige  me  to  do. 
Montargis  is  my  dower- liouse,  but  is  worth 
nothing.  I  live  on  the  King's  bounty.  They 
began  by  giving  me  nothing  at  all  after  my  hus- 
band's death What   would  have  been  my 

fate  had  I  chosen  to  retire  to  Montargis?" 

"  Saint  Cloud,  June  15th,  1722. 

'^  The  Dauphin  *  was  very  intelligent,  and  truly 
pious ;  but  he  had  one  detect,  that  of  allowing  his 
wife  to  manage  him  as  though  he  was  a  child.  She 
could  make  him  believe  anything  she  liked.  He 
certainly  proved  his  love  for  her  by  dying  of  grief 
eight  days  after  her  death.  He  always  said  that  it 
would  be  so.     A  famous  Turin  astrologer  once  told 


» 


The  Due  de  Bourgoyne. 


r; 


336 


LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF  THE 


the  Dauphine  htr  fortune.  He  predicted  all  that 
would  liappen  to  her  till  her  twenty-seventh  year, 
when  her  career  would  be  cut  short  by  death. 
She  often  spoke  of  this,  for  all  that  he  had  foretold 
really  happened  to  her  year  by  year.  One  day 
she  said  to  her  husband,  '  The  hour  of  my  death 
must  now  be  approaching ;  you  cannot  remain  a 
widower,  on  account  of  your  rank  and  piety ;  pray 
tell  me  the  Princess  you  mean  to  choose?'  He 
answered,  *  I  hope  that  God  will  never  inflict  on 
me  the  pain  of  seeing  you  depart  this  life;  but 
should  this  misfortune  befall  me,  rest  assured  that 
I  shall  never  marry  again,  for  I  sliall  follow  you  in 
eight  days  to  the  grave.'  And  so  it  exactly  hap- 
pened. Eight  days  after  the  death  of  his  wife  he 
also  died.  This  is  a  true  story,  not  a  romance. 
Often,  though  fresh  and  hearty,  the  Dauphine 
would  say,  '  I  must  make  haste  to  enjoy  my  life, 
for  I  shall  die  this  year.'  I  used  to  think  that  she 
said  it  as  a  joke,  but  it  was  only  too  true.  The 
moment  she  fell  ill  she  declared  that  she  knew 
death  was  approaching." 

"  Saint  Cloud,  July  2nd,  1722. 

''  The  Queen-Mother*  could  feel  at  rest,  apropos 
of  Cardinal  Mazarin.  As  he  was  not  an  ordained 
priest  he  was  free  to  wed  her.  The  whole  of  this 
affair  is  now  known  to  us  all.  I  have  often  seen 
the  secret  passage  through  which  they  communicated 
with  each  other  when  at  the  Palais  Royal.  .  .  . 

*  Anne  of  Austria. 


?j 


MOTHER  OF  PHILIPPE  D^ORLEANS,       337 

Preparations  were  being  made  for  the  solemn 
coronation  of  Louis  XV.  at  Rheims,  and  Madame 
was  long  in  making  up  her  mind  to  take  so  long  a 
journey  in  her  weak  state  of  health.  In  September 
she  writes  to  Herr  von  Harling,  ''  I  follow  out  my 
physician's  orders  to  avoid  being  spoken  to  by  my 
son  about  it ;  but  all  must  be  as  God  wills  it  to  be, 
and  I  feel  quite  resigned."  And  two  days  later, 
having  been  informed  that  her  daughter,  the 
Duchesse  de  Lorraine,  was  going  to  Rheims  with 
her  children,  she  writes  again  to  Herr  von  Harlino-, 
"  I  am  in  exactly  the  same  state  as  when  I  last 
wrote  to  you  ;  the  future  is  in  God's  hands.  I  am 
getting  ready  for  my  journey  to  Rheims.  Time 
will  show  whether  the  result  will  be  good  or  evil. 
I  sent  you  your  nephew's  letter,  and  I  can  assure 
you  that  whatever  happens  I  will  remain  your  true 
and  faithful  friend." 

To  THE  Raugravine  Louise. 

"  Paris,  ]^ov.  8th,  1722. 

''  I  arrived  home  *  the  day  before  yesterday,  but 
m  a  sad  state  During  my  journey  I  received  five 
of  your  dear  letters,  and  I  thank  you  for  them  most 
sincerely ;  they  afforded  me  great  pleasure.  I  did 
not  answer  you  whilst  away,  both  owing  to  my 
general  weakness  and  the  want  of  time,  for  I  had 
my  children  constantly  with  me,  and  visits  from 
many  distinguished  people,  including  Princes, 
Dukes,  Cardinals,  Archbishops,  and  Bishops  who 

*  At  the  Palais  Royal. 
Z 


! 


Ill 


■ti 


338 


LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF  THE 


Vi\ 


II II 


came  to  see  me.  I  do  not  think  it  would  be 
possible  to  conceive  a  more  beautiful  sight  than  the 
King's  coronation.  If  God  gives  me  time  I  will 
give  you  a  description  of  it.  My  daughter  was 
muck  moved  on  seeing  me.  She  had  never  really 
believed  in  my  illness,  thinking  that  I  was  only 
fatigued  with  all  I  had  gone  through  in  the  last 
few  years.  But  when  she  saw  me  at  Rheims  she 
was  so  shocked  by  my  appearance  that  the  tears 
came  into  her  eyes.     Her  look  quite  troubled  me. 

Her  children  are  much  grown  and  fine  looking 

I  should  like  to  talk  to  you  thus  a  little  longer, 
but  I  feel  too  tired  to  do  so " 

'*  Paris,  Nov.  12tli,  1722. 

''  I  hope  to  be  able  to  send  you  an  account  of  the 
coronation  the  day  after  to-morrow.  I  know  of 
nothing  fresh  to  tell  you  to-day,  excepting  that  I 
have  been  informed  of  something  which  causes  me 
great  joy,  namely,  that  my  son  has  definitively 
dismissed  all  his  mistresses  and  former  boon  com- 
panions, and  that,  were  it  only  for  the  young  King's 
sake,  he  will  find  it  impossible  to  continue  his  old 
way  of  life.  I  hope  that  God  will  assist  him  in 
remaining  firm  to  these  good  resolutions.  It  is  the 
only  matter  that  troubles  me ;  for  the  rest,  let  God 
dispose  of  me  as  He  will " 

"  Paris,  November  21st,  1722. 

*'  I  get  worse  every  hour  and  suffer  incessant 
pain,  from  which  nothing  relieves  me.     I  greatly 


MOTHER  OF  PHILIPPE  D'ORLEJNS,      339 

need  that  God  shall  inspire  me  with  patience.  Do 
not  grieve  should  you  happen  to  lose  me,  for  it 
would  be  for  me  a  great  happiness  to  be  delivered 
from  my  sufferings " 

"  Paris,  November  29tb,  1722. 

"You  will  only  receive  a  very  short  letter 
to-day.  I  am  worse  than  ever,  and  cannot  sleep. 
Yesterday  morning  we  lost  our  poor  Marechale.'^ 
She  died  quietly,  without  any  special  disease  having 
attacked  her.  Her  death  has  really  grieved  me, 
for  she  was  a  worthy  and  clever  woman.  No  one 
can  be  surprised  at  the  death  of  a  person  of  eighty- 
one  years  of  age,  yet  it  is  painful  to  lose  a  friend 
whom  one  has  known  fifty-one  years.  But  I  must 
leave  off  now,  dear  Louise.  I  am  in  too  great  pain 
to  be  able  to  add  another  word.  If  you  saw  tlie 
sad  state  I  am  in,  you  would  understand  my 
longing  for  the  end " 

Madame  died  nine  days  after  this  letter  was 
written,  in  the  Regent's  arms,  but  far  from  her 
daughter,  who  did  not  hear  of  her  mother's  death 
till  some  days  later. 

Marais  wrote  in  his  diary  five  days  before  her 
death,  ''  Madame  is  very  ill,  and  all  hopes  have 
been  abandoned.  Physicians  are  arriving  from  all 
sides  and  promise  to  surely  cure  her,  but  she  only 
says  that  they  are  all  quacks,  and  that  she  is 
content    to    die.     (This  was   very    characteristic.) 

*  The  Marechale  de  Clerembaut. 


I 


i 


340 


LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF  THE 


She  is  very  courageous  and  steadfast,  and  did  not 
mind  the  journey  to  Rheims,  saying  that  death  is 
the  same  wherever  you  happen  to  meet  him.  She 
said  to  her  son,  '  Why  do  you  weep  ?  Must  we 
not  all  end  by  dying  in  this  world  ? '  and  to  a 
lady  who  wished  to  kiss  her  hand,  *  You  can 
embrace  me  if  you  like,  for  I  am  going  to  a  land 
where  all  shall  be  equal  in  the  sight  of  God.' 
We  are  about  to  lose  a  good  Princess  ;  a  rare  and 
precious  thing  in  these  times " 

She  was  interred  in  Saint  Denis,  and  Masillion 
preached  her  funeral  oration. 

Writing  on  the  loth  of  December  to  the  Marquise 
d'Aulade,  the  Duchesse  de  Lorraine  says:  "I  am 
so  overwhelmed  with  grief  that  it  is  impossible  to 
write  at  length.  I  may  truly  say,  in  Madame's  loss 
I  lose  all,  and  death  will  be  welcomed  by  me  now, 
as  a  means  to  rejoining  her."  To  Madame,  not- 
withstanding Saint  Simon's  implication  that  Made- 
moiselle de  Chartres  had  been  glad  to  leave  her 
mother  when  she  married  the  Due  de  Lorraine,  she 
bore  a  true  and  vivid  affection. 

In  a  quaint  inventory,  drawn  up  immediately 
after  Madame's  death,  of  the  furniture  in  her 
apartments  we  find : 

One  long  bed,  nine  feet  square,  English  tapestries 
comprised  of  grotesque  subjects. 

French  ditto,  recounting  Ovid's  Metamorphoses. 

One  white  satin  carpet. 

In  her  boudoir,  three  chairs,  tapestries. 


ilii 


MOTHER   OF  PHILIPPE  D^ORLEJNS.     341 

Fifty  pieces  of  rare  porcelain  and  a  great  many 
looking  glasses,  besides  a  strange  collection  of 
curios. 

One  detail  connected  with  her  death  would  have 
sorely  vexed  her.  Cardinal  Dubois  bought  up  all 
the  black  materials  very  cheaply  and  sold  them  at  a 
large  profit,  on  Madame's  death  being  ofiicially 
notified  to  the  good  people  with  whom  she  had 
always  been  so  popular,  notwithstanding  her  son, 
the  Regent's,  many  private  sins,  and  his  connection 
with  the  too  famous  Mississippi  Company. 


f 


THE   END. 


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4 
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4 
4 
4 
4 
4 
3 
3 
3 
3 
3 
3 
3 
3 
3 
3 
3 
3 
3 
7 
7 


o 

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CHAPMAN  «Sr*  HALL,  LIMITED, 


33 


DICKENS'S  (CHARLES)  WORKS.— C^«////z^^//. 

THE     ILLUSTRATED     LIBRARY     EDITION. 

(WITH     LIFE.) 

Compute  in  J2  Volumes.     Demy  8vo,  los.  each  ;  or  set,  £16. 

This  Edition  is  printed  on  a  finer  paper  and  in  a  larger  type  than  has  been 
employed  in  any  previous  edition.  The  type  has  been  cast  especially  for  it,  and 
the  page  is  of  a  size  to  admit  of  the  introduction  of  all  the  original  illustrations. 

No  such  attractive  issue  has  been  made  of  the  writings  of  Mr.  Dickens,  which, 
various  as  have  been  the  forms  of  publication  adapted  to  the  demands  of  an  ever 
widely-increasing  popularity,  have  never  yet  been  worthily  presented  in  a  really 
handsome  library  form. 

The  collection  comprises  all  the  minor  writings  it  was  Mr.  Dickens's  wish  to 
preserve. 

SKETCHES  BY  "  BOZ."    With  40  Illustrations  by  George  Cruikshank. 
PICKWICK  PAPERS.     2  vols.     With  42  Illustrations  by  Phiz. 
OLIVER  TWIST.     With  24  Illustrations  by  Cruikshank. 
NICHOLAS  NICKLEBY.     2  vols.     With  40  Illustrations  by  Phiz. 

OLD  CURIOSITY  SHOP  and  REPRINTED  PIECES.     2  vols.     With  Illus- 
trations by  Cattermole,  &c. 

BARNABY    RUDGE   and    HARD    TIMES.     2  vols.    With    Illustrations  by 
Cattermole,  &c. 

MARTIN  CHUZZLEWIT.     2  vols.     With  40  Illustrations  by  Phiz. 

AMERICAN    NOTES    and    PICTURES    FROM    ITALY.       i    vol.       With 
8  Illustrations. 

DOMBEY  AND  SON.     2  vols.     With  40  Illustrations  by  Phiz. 

DAVID  COPPERFIELD.    2  vols.     With  40  Illustrations  by  Phiz. 

BLEAK  HOUSE.     2  vols.     With  40  Illustrations  by  Phiz. 

LITTLE  DORRIT.     2  vols.     With  40  Illustrations  by  Phiz. 

A  TALE  OF  TWO  CITIES.     With  16  Illustrations  by  Phiz. 

THE  UNCOMMERCIAL  TRAVELLER.   With  8  Illustrations  by  Marcus  Stone. 

GREAT  EXPECTATIONS.     With  8  Illustrations  by  Marcus  Stone. 

OUR  MUTUAL  FRIEND.    2  vols.     With  40  Illustrations  by  Marcus  Stone. 

CHRISTMAS   BOOKS.     With   17  Illustrations  by  Sir  Edwin  Landseer,  R.A., 
Maclise,  R.A.,  &c.  &c. 

HISTORY  OF  ENGLAND.     With  8  Illustrations  by  Marcus  Stone. 

CHRISTMAS    STORIES.     (From   "Household  Words"  and   "All  the  Year 
Round.")    With  14  Illustrations. 

EDWIN    DROOD    AND    OTHER    STORIES       With    12    Illustrations   by 
S,  L.  Fildes. 

LIFE  OF  CHARLES  DICKENS.     By  John  Forster.    With  Portraits.     2  vols, 
(not  separate.) 


34 


BOOKS  PUBLISHED  BY 


DICKENS'S   (CHARLES)  \SO^Y^%.— Continued, 


THE    POPULAR  LIBRARY   EDITION 

OF  THE  WORKS  OF 

CHARLES    DICKENS, 

In  30   Vols.^  large  crown  Svo,  price  £fi ;  separate  Vols.  4J.  ecuh. 


An  Edition  printed  on  good  paper,  each  volume  containing  16  full-page 
Illustrations,  selected  from  the  Household  Edition,  on  Plate  Paper. 

SKETCHES   BY   **BOZ." 

PICKWICK.     2  vols. 

OLIVER  TWIST. 

NICHOLAS   NICKLEBY      2  vols. 

MARTIN    CHUZZLEWIT.      2  voU. 

DOMBEY  AND   SON.      2  vols. 

DAVID    COPPERFIELD.     2  vols. 

CHRISTMAS    BOOKS. 

OUR    MUTUAL    FRIEND.     2  vols. 

CHRISTMAS   STORIES. 

BLEAK  HOUSE.       2  vols. 

LITTLE  DORRIT.      2  vols. 

OLD  CURIOSITY  SHOP  and  REPRINTED  PIECES.      2  vols 

BARNABY   RUDGE.     2  vols. 

UNCOMMERCIAL   TRAVELLER. 

GREAT    EXPECTATIONS. 

TALE  OF  TWO  CITIES. 

CHILD'S  HISTORY  OF  ENGLAND. 

EDWIN  DROOD  and  MISCELLANIES. 

PICTURES  FROM    ITALY  and  AMERICAN   NOTES. 


CHAPMAN  6-  HALL,  LIMITED, 


3S 


DICKENS'S   (CHARLES)  ^O^Y^%,— Continued, 
HOUSEHOLD     EDITION. 

(WITH     LIFE.) 

In  22  Volumes.     Crown  ^fo,  cloth,  £\  %s.  6d, 

MARTIN  CHUZZLEWIT,  with  59  Illustrations,  cloth,  5s. 

DAVID  COPPERFIELD,  with  60  Illustrations  and  a  Portrait,  cloth,  53. 

BLEAK  HOUSE,  with  6i  Illustrations,  cloth,  5s. 

LITTLE  DORRIT,  with  58  Illustrations,  cloth,  55. 

PICKWICK  PAPERS,  with  56  Illustrations,  cloth,  55. 

OUR  MUTUAL  FRIEND,  with  58  Illustrations,  cloth,  5s. 

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tions,  cloth,  55. 

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BARNABY  RUDGE,  with  46  Illustrations,  cloth,  4s. 

OLD  CURIOSITY  SHOP,  with  32  Illustrations,  cloth,  4s. 

CHRISTMAS  STORIES,  with  23  Illustrations,  cloth,  4s. 

OLIVER  TWIST,  with  28  Illustrations,  cloth,  3s. 

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SKETCHES  BY  "  BOZ,"  with  36  Illustrations,  cloth,  3s. 

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CHRISTMAS  BOOKS,  with  28  Illustrations,  cloth,  3s. 

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AMERICAN  NOTES  and  PICTURES  FROM  ITALY,  with  18  lUustraUons 
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HARD  TIMES,  with  20  Illustrations,  cloth,  2s.  6d. 


36 


BOOKS  PUBLISHED  BY 


DICKENS'S   (CHARLES)   \^OKYJ^,— Continued. 


CHAPMAN  6*  HALL,  LIMITED. 


37 


THE    CABINET    EDITION. 

In  32  vols,  small  fcap.  8vo,  Marble  Paper  Sides,  Cloth  Backs,  with  uncut 
edges,  price  Eighteenpence  each. 

Each  Volume  contains  Eight  Illustrations  reproduced  from  the  Originals. 

CHRISTMAS   BOOKS. 

MARTIN   CHUZZLEWIT,    Two  Vols. 

DAVID   COPPEKFIELD,    Two  Vols. 

OLIVER  TWIST. 

GREAT   EXPECTATIONS. 

NICHOLAS   NICKLEBV,  Two  Vols. 

SKETCHES   BY   "BOZ." 

CHRISTMAS   STORIES. 

THE   PICKWICK   PAPERS,    Two  Vols. 

BARNABY   RUDGE,    Two  Voh. 

BLEAK   HOUSE,   Two  Vols. 

AMERICAN   NOTES  and   PICTURES   FROM   ITALY. 

EDWIN   DROOD;    AND   OTHER   STORIES. 

THE  OLD   CURIOSITY   SHOP,   Two  Vols. 

A   CHILD'S   HISTORY   OF   ENGLAND 

DOMBEY   AND   SON,    Two  Vols. 

A   TALE   OF  TWO   CITIES. 

LITTLE   DORRIT,    Two  Vols. 

MUTUAL  FRIEND,   Two  Vols. 

HARD  TIMES. 

UNCOMMERCIAL  TRAVELLER. 

REPRINTED   PIECES. 


NEW  &  CHEAP  ISSUE  OF  THE  WORKS  OF  CHARLES  DICKENS. 

In  Pocket  Volumes. 

PICKWICK   PAPERS,  with  8  Illustrations,  cloth,  2s. 

NICHOLAS    NICKLEBY,  with  8  Illustrations,  cloth,  2s. 

OLIVER  TWIST,   with  8  Illustrations,  cloth,^is. 

SKETCHES   BY    "  BOZ,"  with  8  Illustrations,  cloth,  is. 

OLD   CURIOSITY   SHOP,   with  8  Illustrations,  cloth,  2s. 

BARNABY   RUDGE,  with  16  Illustrations,  cloth,  2s. 

AMERICAN   NOTES  and   PICTURES   FROM   ITALY,  with 
8  Illustrations,  cloth,  is.  6d. 

CHRISTMAS   BOOKS,  with  8  Illustrations,  cloth,  is.  6d. 

MARTIN   CHUZZLEWIT,  with  8  Illustrations,  2s. 


DICKENS'S   (CHARLES)   \'^O^YJ$>.— Continued. 
MR.    DICKENS'S     READINGS- 

Fcap.  SvOf  sewed. 

CHRISTMAS   CAROL   IN   PROSE,     is. 

CRICKET  ON   THE   HEARTH,     is. 

CHIMES:    A  GOBLIN   STORY,     is. 

STORY   OF   LITTLE   DOMBEY.     is. 

POOR    TRAVELLER,    BOOTS   AT    THE    HOLLY-TREE 
INN,   and   MRS.    GAMP.     is. 


A  CHRISTMAS  CAROL,  with  the  Original  Coloured   Plates. 

Being:  a  reprint  of  the  Original  Edition.     With  red  border  lines.     Small  8vo, 
red  cloth,  gilt  edges,  5s. 


CHARLES    DICKENS'S   CHRISTMAS   BOOKS. 

REPRINTED  FROM  THE  ORIGINAL  PLATES. 

Illustrated  by  John  Leech,  D.  Maclise,  R.A.,  R.  Doyle, 
C.  Stanfield,  R.A.,  &c. 

Fcap.  cloth,  IS.  each.     Complete  in  a  case,  §s. 

A    CHRISTMAS   CAROL   IN   PROSE. 

THE   CHIMES  :  A  Goblin  Story. 

THE   CRICKET    ON    THE    HEARTH:   A   Fairy   Tale  of 

Home. 

THE  BATTLE  OF  LIFE.     A  Love  Story. 

THE   HAUNTED    MAN    AND    THE    GHOST'S    STORY. 


SIXPENNY    REPRINTS. 
READINGS  FROM  the  WORKS  of  CHARLES  DICKENS. 

As  selected  and  read  by  himself  and  now  published  for  tlie  first  time.    Illustrated 

A    CHRISTMAS    CAROL,  and    THE    HAUNTED    MAN. 

By  Charles  Dickens.     Illustrated. 
THE    CHIMES:    A   Goblin   Storv,   and  THE   CRICKET 

ON    THE    HEARTH.     Illustrated. 

THE    BATTLE    OF    LIFE:     A    Love    Story,    HUNTED 

DOWN,    AND    A    HOLIDAY    ROMANCE.     Illustrated. 

The  last  Three  Volumes  as  Christmas  Works, 
In  One  Volume,  red  cloth,  2s.  6d. 


38 


BOOKS  PUBLISHED  BY 


SCIENCE   AND   ART, 

%  STotttnal  for  STeaci&era  anU  StulKnttft. 

ISSUED  BY  Messrs.  CHAPMAN  &  HALL,  Limited, 

Agents  for  the  Science  and  Art  Department  of  the  Committee  of 

Council  on  Education. 


MONTHLY,    PRICE    THREEPENCE. 

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tions of  the  Science  and  Art  Department ;  and  interesting  news  in  connection  with  the 
scientific  and  artistic  world. 

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With  each  issue  of  the  Journal,  papers  or  drawings  are  oflTered  for  Prize  Competition, 
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but  the  teachers  connected  with  these  institutions,  although  engaged  in  the  advancement 
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39 


)> 


ANSWERS  TO  QUESTIONS,   1887  and   1888. 

Messrs.  CHAPMAN  b'  HALL  be^  to  announce  that  Answer,  to  the  Questions 
{.Elementary  and  Advanced)  set  at  the  Examinations  of  the  Science  and  Art 
Department  of  May,  1887  and  1888.  are  published  as  under,  each  subject  beins 
kept  distinct,  and  issued  in  pamphlet  form  separately. 

I.  Animal  Physiology  ...     1887  (  By  J.  II.  E.  Brock,  M.D.,  B.S.  (Lond  ) 

1888  i  F.R.C.S.  {Eng.),D.P.H.  (Lond.) 

H.  Adams,  C.E.,  M.LM.E. 

J,  C.  Fell,  M.LM.E. 
£.  Pillow,  M.LM.E. 

Rev.  F.  W.  Harnett,  M.A. 

J.     J.     Pillcy,      Ph.D.,      F.C.S., 
F.R.M.S. 

J.  Howard,  F.C.S. 


2.  Building  Construction  1887  \ 

1888/ 

3.  Theoretical  Mechanics,  1887 

»>  5>  1808 

4.  Inorganic  Chemistry  (Theo-  \ 

retical),  1887  J 
Inorganic  Chemistry  (Theo-  ) 

reiical),  I688  ^ 

5.  Ditto— Alternative    Course 

1887 
Ditto— Alternative    Course 

1888 

6.  Magnetism  and  Electricity 

1887 
Magnetism  and  Electricity 

1888 

7.  Physiography 1887  \ 

>»  )>      •••        ...     1888  J 

8.  Practical  Plane  and  Solid  \ 

Geometry     1887/ 

Practical  Plane  and  Solid  \ 
Geometry     iSi8  ) 

9.  Art— Third    Grade.       Prk-\ 

SPECTIVE  1887  / 

Art— Third    Grade.       Pek-  ] 

SPECTIVE  1888/ 

10.  Pure  Mathematics  ...     18S7 

>>  5>  ...  1888 

11.  Machine  Construction  and  \ 

Drawing       1887  f 

Machine  Construction  and  \ 
Drawing       1888) 

12.  Principles  of  Agriculture 

1887 
Principles  of  Agriculture 

1888, 

13.  Sound,  Light,  and  Heat,  1887  | 

>>  >>  J,      1888  J 

14.  Hygiene  1887  \ 

>»  •••        ...    1888  J 

15.  Inorganic  Chemistry  (Prac-  \ 

tical)     1887  I 

Inorganic   Chemistry  (Prac-  j 
tical)     1888  J 

16.  Applied  Mechanics  ...     1888 

^  J^x  ^  vfx  ''^f'''^'   Pamphlet  {dealing  with  both  Elementar^'  and  Advanced 


W.  Hibbert,  F.I.C,  A.I.E.E. 
W.  Rheam,  B.Sc. 
H.  Angel. 

A.  Fisher. 

A.  Fisher  and  S.  Beale. 

R.  R.  Steel,  F.C.S. 
H.  Carter,  B.A. 

H.  Adams,  C.E.,  M.LM.E. 

Dr.  H.J.Webb,  B.Sc. 
C.  A.  Stevens. 


J.     J.     Pilley,      Ph.D., 
F.K.M.S. 


J.  Howard,  F.C.S. 
C.  B.  Outon,  Wh.Sc. 


^  •  \^»  ^*9 


40 


CHAPMAN  6*  HALL,  LIMLTED, 


THE    FORTNIGHTLY   REVIEW. 

Edited    by    FRANK   HARRIS, 

THE  FORTNIGHTLY  REVIEW  is  published  on  the  ist  of 
every  month,  and  a  V'»lume  is  completed  every  Six  Months. 
TAi  follcrwing  are  among  the  Contributors : — 


ADMIRAL  LORD  ALCESTER. 

GRANT  ALLEN. 

SIR  RUTHERFORD  ALCOCK. 

AUTHOR  OF  "GREATER  BRITAIN." 

PROFESSOR  BAIN. 

SIR   SAMUEL  BAKER. 

PROFESSOR  BEESLY. 

PAUL   BOURGET. 

BARON   GEORGE  VON    BUNSEN. 

DR.  BRIDGES. 

HON.  GEORGE  C.  BRODRICK. 

JAMES  BRYCE,  M.P. 

THOMAS   BURT,  M.P. 

SIR  GEORGE  CAMPBELL,  M.P. 

THE  EARL  OF  CARNARVON. 

EMILIO  CASTELAR. 

RT.  HON.  J.  CHAMBERLAIN,  M.P. 

PROFESSOR  SIDNEY  COLVIN. 

THE  EARL  COMPTON. 

MONTAGUE  COOKSON,  Q.C. 

L.  H.  COURTNEY,  M.P. 

G.  H.  DARWIN. 

SIR  GEORGE  W.  DASENT. 

PROFESSOR  A.  V.  DICEY. 

PROFESSOR  DOWDEN. 

RT.  HON.  M.  E.  GRANT  DUFF. 

RIGHT  HON.  H.  FAWCEIT,  M.P. 

ARCHDEACON  FARRAR. 

EDWARD  A.  FREEMAN. 

J.  A.  FROUDE. 

MRS.  GARRET-ANDERSON. 

J.  W.  L.  GLAISHER,  F.R.S. 

SIR  J.  E.  GORST,  Q.C,  M.P. 

EDMUND  GOSSE. 

THOMAS  HARE. 

FREDERIC  HARRISON. 

ADMIRAL  SIR  G.  P.  HORNBY. 

LORD  HOUGHTON. 

PROFESSOR  HUXLEY. 

PROFESSOR  R.  C.  JEBB. 

ANDREW  LANG. 

VMILE  DE  LAVELEYE. 

T.  E.  CLIFFE  LESLIE. 

W.  S.  LILLY. 

MARQUIS  OF  LORNE. 


PIERRE   LOTE. 

SIR  JOHN  LUBBOCK,  BartxM.P. 
THE  EARL  OF  LYTION. 
SIR  H.  S.  MAINE. 
CARDINAL  MANNING. 
DR.  MAUDSLEY. 
PROFESSOR  MAX  MULLER. 
GEORGE  MEREDITH. 
RT.  HON.  G.  OSBORNE  MORGAN, 
Q.C,  M.P.  I 

PROFESSOR  HENRY  MORLEY. 
RT.  HON.  JOHN  MORLEY,  M.P. 
WILLIAM  MORRIS. 
PROFESSOR   H.  N.  MOSELEY. 
F.  W.  H.  MYERS. 
F.  W.  NEWMAN. 
PROFESSOR  JOHN  NICHOL. 
W.  G.  PALGRAVE. 
WALTER  H.  PATER. 
RT.  HON.  LYON  PLAYFAIR,  M.P. 
SIR  HENRY  POTTINGER,  Bart. 
PROFESSOR  J.  R.  SEELEY. 
LORD  SHERBROOKE. 
PROFESSOR  SIDGWICK. 
HERBERT  SPENCER. 
M.  JULES  SIMON. 

(DoCTOK    L'ACAUEMIE    FRANCAI.<iE) 

HON.  E.  L.  STANLEY. 

SIR  J.  FITZJAMES  STEPHEN,  Q.C. 

LESLIE  STEPHEN. 

J.  HUTCHISON  STIRLING. 

A.  C  SWINBURNE. 

DR.  VON  SYBEL. 

J.  A.  SYMONDS. 

SIR  THOMAS   SYMONDS. 
(Admiral  of  the  Fleet). 

THE  REV.  EDWARD  F.  TALBOT 
(Wakuen  of  Keble  College). 

SIR  RICHARD  TEMPLE,  Bart. 

HON.  LIONEL  A.  TOLLEMACHE. 

H.  D.  TRAILL. 

PROFESSOR  TYNDALL. 

A.  J.  WILSON. 

GEN.  VISCOUNT  WOLSELEY. 

THE  EDITOR. 


&c.  &c.  &c. 


The  Fortnightly  Review  is  published  at  2s.  6d, 

CHAPMAN   &  HALL,    LIMITED,    ii,   HENRIETTA   STREET, 

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CHARLES   DICKENS   AND  EVANS,! 


[crystal  PAL.^CE  PRESS. 


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